The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences last week awarded the 2006 Heineken Prizes to five researchers and one artist. The winners, each of whom will receive a $150,000 prize, are as follows:

Biochemistry and Biophysics: Sir Alec J. Jeffreys, of the department of genetics at the University of Leicester, in Britain, for “his discovery of the genetic fingerprint.” Cognitive Science: John R. Anderson, of the department of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, for “his ground-breaking theory of human cognition.” Environmental Sciences: Stuart L. Pimm, of the School of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University, for “his research on species extinction and conservation” (The Chronicle, November 14, 1997). History: Joel Mokyr, of the department of economics at Northwestern University, for “his research into the origins of the modern industrial economy.” Medicine: Mary-Claire King, of the departments of medicine (medical genetics) and genome sciences at the University of Washington, for “proving the existence of the first hereditary breast-cancer gene” (The Chronicle, December 19, 1997, and June 10, 2005).

Job Koelewijn, a Dutch artist, won the art prize. There were no awards for drinking beer.