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From the Desk of Bill Cirone...
October 30, 1998
Modern-day heroes: Nobel laureates
American citizens, trained in U.S. schools, again dominated the Nobel Prizes this year in science. We salute their accomplishments, their recognition, and their career-long pursuit of knowledge.
All five scientists who won Nobel prizes in physics and chemistry were researchers at American universities, including our newest Santa Barbara County hero, Dr. Walter Kohn of UCSB. The prizes were awarded for investigations of the behavior of matter at the smallest scale.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the physics prize to Robert Laughlin of Stanford University, Horst L. Stormer of Columbia University, and Daniel C. Tsui of Princeton University. Their work constitutes a breakthrough in our understanding of quantum physics, which is the set of principles that describes how the fundamental units of matter and energy interact.
The chemistry prize went to Kohn and John A. Pople of Northwestern University, for devising ways to calculate mathematically how chemical bonds among atoms form and change.
Kohn and Pople, laboring independently on different aspects of the problem, invented ingenious computational methods that now make it possible to predict many aspects of reactions and molecular structures in pharmaceuticals, climate chemistry, and astronomy, among other fields.
The work "opens doors to faster discoveries of new medical treatments and high-tech materials," said Joan Shields, chairman of the American Chemical Society.
What's interesting about the intricacy, breadth, and overlapping concepts of advanced science is the fact that Dr. Kohn was a professor in the physics department at UCSB, not the chemistry department. Those knowledgeable about his research say he could easily have won the award in physics as well.
Last year in physics, two Americans and a French colleague won for ground-breaking experiments that trap atoms and chill them to the brink of what nature allows.
The year before that, the physics prize went to two Americans as well.
Also last year, Paul Boyer was one of three scientists to win the Nobel prize in chemistry for pioneering work on enzymes. The prior year, the Nobel prize in chemistry was also shared by two Americans.
These Nobel laureates are true, modern-day heroes, and the kind of role models for our children that seem to be sorely lacking in current times.
Physics and chemistry are generally not considered subjects for which students may have an innate "ear." These are rigorous subject areas that require dedication and motivation to master. The information is not intuitive; it must be taught.
For years, Americans have dominated the science areas in the Nobel prizes, and that should be a source of national pride. Last year, U.S. fourth graders scored second in the world in the most recent international test of science&emdash;and 16 points above the average in math. These are all very encouraging signs for science education in our country.
Congratulations to the newest Nobel laureates &emdash; and to all the teachers they've had, at every level throughout the years, who helped prepare them for this honored recognition. These scientists are our true modern-day heroes and we should take pride in their contributions to make this world a better place.
© Santa Barbara County Education Office
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