Julia Milner

Julia Milner, together with her husband Yuri, established the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing fundamental knowledge, celebrating scientific achievement, and utilizing scientific and technological innovations to improve people’s lives and inspire future generations. The Foundation’s programs include the Breakthrough Prize, renowned as the “Oscars of Science,” which recognizes the world’s top scientists in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics; and the Breakthrough Initiatives, a suite of scientific research programs investigating the fundamental questions of life in the universe.

Under Julia’s patronage, the Foundation launched the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global science video competition, which aims to develop and demonstrate young people’s knowledge of science and scientific principles; generate excitement in these fields; support STEM career choices; and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science. Since its launch in 2015, the Challenge has received 25,000 submissions from more than 200 countries.

Julia studied painting and photography. Her internet project “Click I Hope” was exhibited at the 52nd Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2007. She and her husband are parents to three daughters, and together they enjoy traveling, art and culture. One of their daughters is one of the leading chess players in the world in her age group.