Three Nobel Prize recipients will be in the Twin Cities this April to engage students and the scientific community, and explore how science can help solve the world’s greatest challenges.
More than one thousand high school and college students, young scientists and 3M employees will attend the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative April 25-26 at 3M's global headquarters in St. Paul, the University of Minnesota and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative is a global event that is coming to Twin Cities for the first time through a 3M and Nobel Media partnership.
"This unique and prestigious event is all about collaborating to solve current problems and the challenges we will face in the future," says 3M Sr. VP and Chief Technology Officer John Banovetz. "We are privileged to welcome three Nobel Laureates to Minnesota to inspire the problem solvers of today and tomorrow."
At 3M and University of Minnesota events, Dr. Mario Molina (Nobel Prize Chemistry 1995) will talk about the future of the world’s climate and his ground-breaking ozone research that led to global environmental policy changes. He will also host a question and answer session with hundreds of high school students at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
On the afternoon of April 25, Dr. Molina will be joined by Elizabeth Blackburn (Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2009) and David J. Gross (Nobel Laureate in Physics 2004) to discuss the grand challenges of our time at the University of Minnesota.
3M and Nobel Media also have a long-term international partnership committed to advancing scientific research, sustainability and education.
"We believe 3M shares our mission to inspire current and future thinkers to engage in science in line with Alfred Nobel's vision and legacy," says Nobel Media CEO Mattias Fyrenius.
Previous activities in that partnership included events featuring Nobel Laureates in Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and India.
More information about the event.
The Nobel Laureates at the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative:
Elizabeth Blackburn (Medicine 2009): Molecular Biologist
- Discovered telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes the telomere. Born in Australia.
David J. Gross (Physics 2004): Theoretical Physicist
- Discovered of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction. Born in U.S.
Mario J. Molina (Chemistry 1995): Chemist
- Demonstrating stratospheric ozone depletion, discovered the Antarctic ozone hole. Born in Mexico.
