Roger Kornberg set to inspire Scandinavian scientists
Press Release – 2014-03-31
On 8–9 April 2014, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Roger Kornberg will visit venues across Scandinavia. Dr Kornberg will be participating in the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative, a global programme that brings Nobel Laureates to universities and research centres, to inspire and engage scientists at all stages of their careers.
What does it take to create an innovative environment? Can we look to a future that is free from disease? What does it mean to be a scientist? These are just some of the questions that will be discussed by Nobel Laureate Roger Kornberg on his visit to Sweden and Denmark as part of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (NPII). Dr Kornberg will share personal insights with young scientists from some of the region’s leading institutions: the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark. Dr Kornberg will also have the opportunity to meet with academics and researchers from AstraZeneca and Medicon Village.
Roger Kornberg is Winzer Professor in Medicine in the Department of Structural Biology at Stanford University, United States. He was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2006,“for his studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription”. Dr Kornberg is also the son of another Nobel Laureate – his father Arthur Kornberg was awarded the Medicine Prize in 1959 – so he will offer a unique insight on what the prize really means to a scientist. Dr Kornberg’s trip will include lectures, entitled “The End of Disease”, along with interviews and roundtable discussions with students and academics. At AstraZeneca’s Mölndal site, he will take part in a fascinating discussion panel on the importance of the innovative atmosphere for science, alongside other guests: Karin Markides, President and CEO of Chalmers University; Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca’s Innovative Medicines and Early Developments arm and Richard Neutze, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Gothenburg.
This is Dr Kornberg’s first NPII event, and on speaking about it, he said
“I am delighted to be involved in the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative. I look forward to meeting some of Sweden and Denmark’s brightest young scientists. I also look forward to discussing innovative biomedical and pharmaceutical research with academics and industry leaders from the region. I hope to contribute to a mutually stimulating and beneficial event.”
The Initiative is organised by Nobel Media, the company managing media rights for the Nobel Prize, in partnership with AstraZeneca, a global innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company that focuses on scientific leadership as a key strategic priority. The partners have conducted similar events in China, India, Europe, Russia and the US.
Speaking about the initiative, Mattias Fyrenius, CEO of Nobel Media AB, said
“We are very excited to bring the Nobel Prize Inspiration initiative to Gothenburg, Mölndal and Copenhagen together with AstraZeneca. It is a unique opportunity to get students and researchers both from academia and industry together in an informal environment to discuss and compare their experiences with Nobel Laureate Roger Kornberg”
Menelas Pangalos, Executive VP of Innovative Medicines & Early Development at AstraZeneca believes that NPII helps his organisation to inspire future scientists
“If we are to deliver tomorrow’s life changing medicines we must continue to find ways to inspire the next generation of great scientists. At AstraZeneca we believe that by working in a porous, collaborative environment, where scientists are encouraged to share ideas and challenge conventional thinking, we can better push forward the boundaries of science. The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative is a great example of how we can help engage younger scientists“
The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative also collects the filmed content from each event and shares it as a series of short, inspirational clips on a new website http://www.nobelprizeinspirationinitiative.org/, bringing the Initiative to a truly global audience of scientists. You can also follow the Initiative on Twitter @NobelPrizeii or Facebook.
About Nobel Laureate Roger Kornberg
Dr Roger Kornberg is Winzer Professor in Medicine in the Department of Structural Biology at Stanford University, United States. He received a BA degree from Harvard in 1967, a PhD degree in chemistry from Stanford in 1972, and was a professor at Harvard Medical School before moving to Stanford in 1978. He has received many awards, including the Welch Prize (2001; the highest award in chemistry in the US), the Leopold Mayer Prize (2002; the highest award in biomedical sciences of the French Academy of Sciences), and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (unshared, 2006). He is a member of national academies in the US and Europe and a recipient of honorary degrees from universities in Europe and Israel. His longest and closest collaborator has been his wife, Professor Yahli Lorch. They have three children, Guy, Maya and Gil.
About the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative and Nobel Media AB
The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative is a global programme that brings Nobel Laureates to universities and research centres to inspire and engage young scientists, the scientific community and the general public by sharing the exciting stories about the Nobel Laureates and their Nobel Prize-awarded achievements. The Initiative is organised by Nobel Media AB, the company managing media rights for the Nobel Prize. Please visit: http://www.nobelprizeinspirationinitiative.org.
Nobel Media® and Nobel Prize® are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation. Nobel Media is neither directly nor indirectly involved in the process of nominating or selecting Nobel Laureates. These procedures are strictly confidential and regulated independently by the different Nobel Prize-awarding institutions.
For further information, contact:
Nobel Media
Siavash Pournouri
Communication Manager
Email: press@nobelmedia.se
Tel: +46 86 6631 722
AstraZeneca – Corporate Affairs
Mia Ekdahl
CVMD & RIA Communications Director
Email: mia.ekdahl@astrazeneca.com
Tel: +46 31 7761 755