Prize idea

Marcus du Sautoy says, rightly, that money is a great way to get kids' eyes to light up and mentions two prizes available to mathematicians (Opinion, April 14).

Your Sustainability supplement (April 14) mentions no prizes for young physicists or other scientists working on problems of renewable or new sources of energy.

It has long dismayed and surprised me that there seem to be no high-profile cash prizes offered to bright young UK scientists for significant advances in energy studies.

Our Government should be offering several prizes in the region of Pounds 100,000 to £1 million for ground-breaking work in these areas and the existence of the prizes should be broadcast in the media. Not only would this stimulate invaluable research, but it would also give a much-needed boost to the image and kudos of young scientists.

Carl Gombrich
University College London