Professor Zvi Maza is the recipient of the Israel Prize in the field of physics research for the year 2018. The award committee noted that the professor led to innovative discoveries in everything related to the discovery of extrasolar planets.
Maza has been a researcher of planets outside the solar system since 1984. The final list of winners includes 13 men and two women. This is the lowest ratio since 2015, when one winner was chosen compared to eight men. The committee also stated in its reasoning that these achievements give Professor Maza global recognition as one of the founding fathers of theField of exoplanets Shamshiyot. "I was lucky to be in the right places and at the right time, and a little effort. I am very excited and proud. I still can't digest," Maza said following the win. "This is the most important award in Israel. I'm excited, proud and indignant," Eyal Veldman said after the disqualification of the prize.