University President in a new role during Nobel Week
In December, The Nobel Week is celebrated at Stockholm University. On 8 December, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' official Nobel Prize lectures were held in Aula Magna. This year, Stockholm University President Astrid Söderbergh Widding also played a prominent role at the Nobel Prize ceremony.
In April, the Nobel Foundation decided that Astrid Söderbergh Widding, President of Stockholm University, will succeed Carl-Henrik Heldin as Chairman of the Foundation's Board. Among the commitments of the Chairman is to give the opening speech at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on Nobel Day, 10 December.
When Astrid Söderbergh Widding made her debut speech on stage at the Stockholm Concert Hall, she began her speech by reminding us that Narges Mohammadi had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia earlier in the day in Oslo, for the fight against the oppression of women in Iran and the fight for human rights and freedom for all. Based on Alfred Nobel's will, she also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and respect for science – not least in times of crisis and polarization.
Astrid Söderbergh Widding went on to say: “The scientific breakthroughs of this year…all serve as powerful examples of the importance of forerunners who pave the way, as well as of the manifold faces of science” and “The laureates being awarded tonight, each in a unique way, testify to the power of science and literature. They show us that individually and together, we have it within ourselves to change the world.”
Read opening address at the Concert Hall by Astrid Söderbergh Widding
In her capacity as Chair of the Nobel Foundation, Astrid Söderbergh Widding then had King Carl XVI Gustaf at the table during the banquet at Stockholm City Hall. The banquet was hosted by the Nobel Foundation, and Astrid Söderbergh Widding began the banquet by proposing the traditional toast to The King.
Great interest in the Nobel Lectures in Aula Magna
During the Nobel Week in December, Stockholm University is usually visited by several Nobel Laureates*. This takes place mainly in connection with the official Nobel Prize lectures under the auspices of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA). The lectures will be given on 8 December and are open to the public. The lecturers are this year's laureates in physics, chemistry and economics.
As in previous years, the more than 1,000 seats in Aula Magna were quickly fully booked. Over an hour before the first lecture was due to start, visitors waited outside the entrance. Among those who were there to listen to the Nobel Lecture in Physics was Eva Lindroth, Professor of Physics at Stockholm University. She conducts research in attosecond physics, the research area that is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023.
Eva Lindroth usually listens to the Nobel lectures in Aula Magna – and this year it was a bit special.
"I have a long-standing research collaboration with the Nobel Laureate in Physics, Anne L'Huillier at Lund University, so the fact that she receives the prize this year is special. I look forward to being inspired by the laureates and hearing how they present their research.
Eva Lindroth believes that the Nobel Lectures in Aula Magna are a fantastic opportunity for students at Stockholm University to listen to lectures by world-leading researchers.
Also present in Aula Magna were several international groups of students and high school students. Fifty or so American high school students were in Stockholm during the Nobel Week through the organization National Society of High School Scholars. They had visited the Nobel Prize Museum, the U.S. Embassy, the Concert Hall and the Centre for Palaeogenetics at Stockholm University – and now the Nobel lectures.
Photo: Caroline Falkman
One of the high school students is Adele Kattenfeld from North Carolina.
"This is a once in a lifetime experience. I look forward to hearing about the Nobel Laureates' research," she said before entering the lecture.
*In December 2022, Stockholm University was visited by a total of 18 Nobel Laureates. There were both the 2022 laureates as well as the laureates from 2020 and 2021 who had not had a real Nobel program before due to the pandemic.
Watch the recording from the lectures on the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' website
Video: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Gunnar von Heijne talks
Video: Åsa Wikforss on appointing Nobel Laureates
Stockholm University researchers in the Nobel Committees
"Claudia Goldin has been very important" – article on lecture by the 2023 laureate in economics
Last updated: December 13, 2023
Source: Communications Office