7 days of magic
To some people, december means more than just christmas. In fact, it is something of a scientific highlight as well. On December 10th the Nobel Laureates are awarded their Nobel Prizes, and the traditional banquet takes place. While being the highlight, it is not the only festivity that week. In fact the term ”Nobel Week” has become quite established. The Laureates are flown in a couple of days prior to the celebrations on the 10th of December to give lectures, be interviewed and attend different events, for example visits to schools. Even after the banquet they are only given a little rest before at least some of them come to Uppsala University to give their lectures yet again.
During the whole week the Laureates are treated like celebrities. Paparazzi and fans are hanging out in the lounge at Grand Hotel for the chance of their scientific idols, and they are featured at prime time on national TV and radio.
This year (and last), things are different of course because of the pandemic. There is still a Nobel Week, with different activities online. Nobel Week Lights is featured for the second year, featuring artistic light installations. These have all been inspired in one way or another by the Nobel Prize and by Nobel Prize-awarded achievements.
Earlier this year I interviewed Robert Lefkowitz, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2012 together with Brian Kobilka. The press described him as the happiest Laureate – which he was. I captured his experiences of the Nobel Week in a podcast episode of Curie which is well worth a listen (disclaimer: I am biased).
”…the heroes are the scientists and the authors. And you really appreciate that, and it’s just mind bending. And for the whole ten days that we were there, we were on the newspapers every day, and on television. The seating plan for the Table of Honor, where we all sit at the Nobel banquet, is published in the paper. People watch it. They have banquets in their own houses. I mean, it’s amazing and you come home and you just have to pinch yourself that you were part of all that.”
He ends by saying that he hopes that this year’s Laureates get to come to Stockholm to collect their prize in person – unfortunately that is not the case. I keep my fingers crossed for next year, so the Laureates get to experience 7 days of magic.
Picture: Projection on Stockholm City Hall during 2020 – The installation had a clear connection to that year’s physics prize awarded to the discovery of the universe’s strangest phenomenon – black holes Space on Stockholm City Hall, produced by Lumination of Sweden, PXLFLD and Creative Technology in collaboration with the Swedish National Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
By Natalie von der Lehr
© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Clément Morin. Space on Stockholm City Hall, produced by Lumination of Sweden, PXLFLD and Creative Technology in collaboration with the Swedish National Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
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