52nd Meeting of the Nobel Laureates: The 2002 Trip Report
 

July 2, 2002
On the Agenda:
Daily info session
Dr. Ahmed Zewail presentation: "Chemistry and Biology in a New Light"
Dr. Jean-Marie Lehn presentation: "Self-organization of Functional Supramolecular Systems"
Dr. Richard Ernst presentation: "Fourier Transform Methods in Spectroscopy, A Key Towards Insight and Comprehension"
Dr. Paul Boyer presentation: "The Oxygen we Breath - Friend or Foe"
Dr. Hartmut Michel presentation: "Cytochrome and Oxidase: The Biosynthesis of Water"
Scientific discussion between Nobel Laureates, assistants, and students at the Inselhalle
Goldenes Lamm Dinner with Laureates

 

A crowd gathers outside the Inselhalle each morning as eager students await the beginning of lectures by the Nobel Laureates.

 

Read about it!


Tuesday morning:

The students heard short presentations from several Laureates on a variety of topics.

Dr. Ahmed Zewail discussed some of the recent advances in using Ultrafast Electron Diffraction to study transient structures and the biological dynamics of proteins and DNA.

Dr. Jean-Marie Lehn talked about the spontaneous but controlled generation of well-defined, functional supramolecular architectures of nanometric size through self-organization.

Dr. Richard Ernst presented an overview on the multitude of applications of Fourier transform methods in spectroscopy. 

Dr. Paul Boyer discussed the mechanisms of ATP formation and the positive and negative effects of oxidation in cells.

Dr. Hartmut Michel talked about the biosynthesis of water and presented experimental approaches to clarify the issue.

Tuesday afternoon:

The scene on Tuesday afternoon was one of sharing, listening, and learning as Nobel Laureates met with groups of students in the Inselhalle for two hours or more. Questions ranged from the specific and scientific to the philosophical and political as Laureates who have made innumerable contributions to science interacted with students just now embarking on their careers.

Above: Professor Rudolf Mössbauer shares information as Michael Blair (front row center) listens and learns. Above: Professor Richard Ernst talks to a room full of delegates Tuesday afternoon.
 

Tuesday evening:

Thank goodness for chemistry -- you can't have good food and good conversation without it! This was obvious at the DOE-hosted dinner for students and selected Nobel Laureates on Tuesday evening at the Goldenes Lamm Restaurant. Nobel Laureates in attendance were Aaron Klug and his wife Liebe, Jerome Karle and his wife Isabella, and Paul Boyer and his wife Lyda. Other guests were Mitio Inokuti from Argonne National Laboratory and John McClure from DOE. Madeleine Jacobs, editor of Chemical and Engineering News, also attended with her husband Joseph. The evening's special guests were strategically located at various tables and students frequently traded places in order to gain maximum access to the Laureates and others.
Above: Madeleine Jacobs interviews some students over dinner for her article on the American delegation in Chemical and Engineering News. Above: Nobel Laureate Jerome Karle engages the students at his table in some lively conversation.

 
Above: Nobel Laureate Aaron Klug has captured the attention of Zach and Jennie. Above: Nobel Laureate Paul Boyer and Matt Douglas have a one-on-one conversation during dinner.
Left: Glake Hill listens intently to Nobel Laureate Jerome Karle.

 

                

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