South SFV Today

In anticipation of this year’s Nobel Prizes, Stanford Report spoke with three of Stanford’s Nobel laureates to learn more about what it’s like to win the prestigious prize.

In 2022, Stanford chemist and the Baker Family Director of Sarafan ChEM-H Carolyn Bertozzi was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry with Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry. William F. Sharpe, the STANCO 25 Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Emeritus, won the prize for economic sciences in 1990 with Harry M. Markowitz and Merton H. Miller for their pioneering work in the theory of financial economics. Carl Wieman, the Cheriton Professor in the School of Engineering, Emeritus, and professor emeritus of physics and education, won the 2001 Nobel Prize in physics with Wolfgang Ketterle and Eric A. Cornell for creating Bose-Einstein condensation using laser cooling and evaporation techniques.

Here, Bertozzi, Sharpe, and Wieman share their reflections on receiving the award:

Bertozzi: “The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh, I’m so happy that my dad is alive to see this!’ He was 91 at the time... Even two years later, that’s all he talks about... Another cool thing was my former students and postdocs organized a Zoom celebration... They did that for me with the top 10 reasons why I should not have won the Nobel Prize – all the lame reasons about me that should have made me ineligible from day one. It was hilarious.”

Sharpe: “My wife, Kathy, and I were at a conference in Tucson... The caller obviously had tons of experience waking people up... As it became clear this was real... We got breakfast and sat on our little deck as the sun rose over the hills behind Tucson... Champagne arrived... all hell broke loose with me on one phone and Kathy on the other.”

Wieman: “I was at home and woken up in the middle of the night... I had to explain to them that no, first I owed it to my students... This is gonna sound awfully arrogant, but it wasn’t a tremendous surprise because... everybody was talking about it.”

When asked about their experiences in Stockholm:

Bertozzi: “That whole two-week extravaganza was something you’ve never experienced in any other way... The medal is given to you by the king of Sweden... It’s like Hollywood superstars but Swedish style.”

Sharpe: “The whole thing is fabulous and exhausting... We had cars with a chauffeur, and I had a handler... People wave at you while you walk down the sidewalk.”

Wieman: “The Swedes make a really big deal out of it. You spend a week with all these parties… It was nice to have that… I remember meeting high-level people like that… but I have to admit… I don’t remember them all that well.”

On how winning impacted their lives:

Bertozzi: “It definitely was a lot of attention… Time doesn’t expand just because you won a Nobel Prize… You also have an opportunity to try and reflect some of the spotlight on people around you.”

Sharpe: “It’s a wonderful experience… being awarded the prize was recognition of academic legitimacy… which was very gratifying.”

Wieman: “It really opened up new opportunities… Me having a Nobel Prize also attracted some support for [the PhET Interactive Simulations project]…”

Stanford has three dozen Nobel laureates as of 2023. Some laureates with significant Stanford connections are not included if they are not on faculty.

Reflecting on surprises after winning:

Bertozzi: “When I go to conferences… young folks want selfies or an autograph… Scientists are heroes with or without Nobel Prizes…”

Sharpe: “You get people who want to drop your name or have you sign on so you’re an adviser…”

Advice for future winners:

Bertozzi: “I was advised to be wary of invitations that look weird… Also just say no to as much as you can…”

Wieman: “Remember to stay humble…”

Carolyn Bertozzi is currently Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor in Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University.

William F. Sharpe joined Stanford faculty in 1970.

Carl Wieman continues his work focusing on education following his Nobel win.

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