Radio Commentary
This year, five Americans won Nobel prizes, earning
the prestigious awards in chemistry, physics, and economics.
In chemistry, the award was shared by Dr. Robert
Lefkowitz a professor at Duke University Medical School, and Dr. Brian Kobilka,
of Stanford University School of Medicine.
Their research filled a major gap in understanding
how cells work and respond to outside signals, and is helping the development
of new drugs.
In physics,
David Wineland of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the
University of Colorado, shared the award with a French researcher, who together
developed techniques to look in on the most intimate relations between light
and matter.
Their work could eventually lead to quantum
computers and super accurate clocks.
In economics, Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley shared
the award for their work on market design and matching theory, related to how
people and companies find and select one another in areas such as marriage, school
choice, jobs, or organ donations. Shapley broke new theoretical ground in the
area and Roth developed concrete uses for it.
Roth, a former Harvard professor, has accepted a new
position at Stanford, and Shapley is a professor emeritus at UCLA.
These are true, modern-day heroes
and we salute them all for their contributions to modern knowledge.
We also applaud all the teachers
they’ve had at every level throughout the years, who helped form the basis of
knowledge that helped lead them to this exalted honor.
