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Article: Caltech's President Reflects on The Meaning of the Nobel Prize.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Los Angeles Business Journal
- Article date:
- October 8, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As both the president of Caltech and a Nobel Prize winner, I can reflect on the meaning of The Prize from two points of view.
Having become a laureate at age 37, I have lived with the prize for most of my scientific career. It certainly makes one a mini-celebrity. "Mini" in the sense that most of the world (blessedly) doesn't recognize a laureate, limiting one's celebrity to the scientific and academic world. But, although the public may not physically recognize a laureate, the Nobel Prize is widely recognized in the larger world, and the celebrity gives some glory to one's institution. That makes recruiting faculty and students a bit easier and gives donors some ...