Historian Mary Beard wins Princess of Asturias Social Sciences award

British historian Mary Beard was on Wednesday named as the winner of the 2016 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences.

The 61-year-old, who specializes in the history of Ancient Greece and Rome, was given the prestigious award for "her outstanding contribution to the study of the culture, politics and society" of the two ancient civilizations, according to the jury.

Beard was chosen ahead of 37 other candidates, including U.S. philosopher Michael Sandel and sociologists Manuel Castells and Alejandro Portes.

The jury described Beard as "one of the most influential European intellectual figures of the moment, who has enjoyed a wide recognition both in the academic world and in society."

They also highlighted "her ability to integrate the legacy of the classical world in our experience of the present."

Beard is the third of the 2016 Princess of Asturias Award winners to be named, following actress and director Nuria Espert Romero, who won the Arts Award, and Communication and Humanities award winner U.S. photojournalist James Nachtwey.

The Princess of Asturias Awards aim to recognize the scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work carried out by people, institutions, groups or institutions in the international arena.

They carry a cash prize of 50,000 euros (around 55,000 U.S. dollars), as well as a certificate and statuette by artist Joan Miro presented every October by the Spanish royal family in a gala event held in the city of Oviedo. Endit