We salute you. The scientists who never stop
exploring, And for the special few who are acknowledged with
the prestigious Nobel Prize we are proud that you have chosen to
publish with us.
Metathesis is an organic chemistry process which enables a range of industrial
and pharmaceutical methods to be more efficient, simpler, and more
environmentally friendly. It allows chemists to replace selective atoms in one
compound with the desired atoms from another compound; thereby generating a
custom-built new molecule with the desired properties for drugs or industrial
processes. Metathesis was first discovered by industrial researchers during
the 1950s. Professor Chauvin paved the way for the successful development of
the method, identifying that successful catalysts would contain a metal.
Professor Schrock’s research initially focused on which metals would be most
effective, ultimately identifying a group of very active, well defined
molybdenum catalysts. Professor Grubbs refined this research further,
resulting in some exceptionally effective catalysts and processes. Many
important organic chemistry reactions can now be achieved in just five or six
steps, rather than the ten or even fifteen reactions required previously. The
three laureates, through their exceptional development of the metathesis
method, provide a classic example of science benefiting mankind and the
environment.
Clockwise from left to right:
Yves Chauvin- Institut Français du Pétrole, Rueil-Malmaison,
France
Robert H. Grubbs - California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) Pasadena, CA, USA
Richard R. Schrock - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) Cambridge, MA, USA
Robert Aumann and Thomas Schelling won their Nobel Prize for their work in
establishing Game Theory, also known as ‘interactive decision theory’. During
the 1950s cold-war period, Schelling’s book ‘The Strategy of Conflict’ firmly
established Game Theory, which Schelling viewed as a ‘unifying framework’ for
all social sciences. He demonstrated that in conflict one side could
strengthen its overall position by choosing inferior options. He also showed
that the ability to retaliate can be strategically superior to the ability to
resist attack, and that uncertain retaliation is strategically superior and
more efficient than certain retaliation. These insights have proven invaluable
in the field of conflict resolution. As Schelling predicted, his research was
soon widely used as an analytical tool throughout social sciences. In
particular his analysis of strategic commitments have informed everything from
corporate strategies to the delegation of political power. Cooperation is
often easier to obtain in long-term relationships, so analysis of short-run
games is frequently inadequate. Robert Aumann pioneered the analysis of
‘infinitely repeated games’. This research led to a greater understanding of
economic conflicts, and an understanding of how communities can better manage
common resources.
From left to right:
Thomas C. Schelling - Department of Economics and School of
Public Policy, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA
Robert J. Aumann - Center for Rationality, Hebrew
University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
Barry Marshall and Robin Warren discovered that inflammation in the stomach
and ulceration of the stomach or duodenum is the result of an infection caused
by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. In 1982, when they discovered this
bacterium, stress and lifestyle were considered the major causes of peptic
ulcer disease. Their studies showed that patients could be cured from their
peptic ulcer disease only when the bacteria is eradicated from the stomach. In
1983 and 1984, they reported in The Lancet their finding of curved bacilli in
the gastric biopsy samples of patients with gastritis. An incredulous medical
world remained unconvinced of the association, even when Marshall swallowed a
solution of the bacteria, thus infecting himself. Only in the early 1990s was
the evidence deemed too great to be ignored, and work began on ways to
eradicate Helicobacter pylori to treat peptic ulcer. As a result of their
pioneering discovery, peptic ulcer disease is no longer a chronic, frequently
disabling condition, but one that can be cured by a short regimen of
antibiotics and acid secretion inhibitors transforming the treatment of
millions.
From left to right:
J. Robin Warren- Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia
Barry J. Marshall- NHMRC Helicobacter pylori Research
Laboratory, QEII Medical Centre; University of Western Australia, Nedlands,
Australia
The nature of light has been greatly elucidated by the theoretical work of
Glauber and the experimental work of Hall and Hänsch. Light is an
electromagnetic radiation that exhibits a dual nature; it can be detected
either as waves or as particles, the so-called ‘wave-particle duality’.
Glauber’s work has provided a fundamental understanding of the behavior of
light particles by establishing the basis of ‘quantum optics’. Glauber was the
first theoretician to apply the principles of quantum electro-dynamics to
light theory. He was then able, for the first time, to compare the differences
between hot sources of light, such as conventional light bulbs (with their
variety of frequencies and phases), with laser light (with single frequencies
and phases.) Hall and Hänsch developed the technique of laser-based precision
spectroscopy, which allows the measurement of light frequency to an accuracy
of fifteen digits. This technique makes it possible to measure the consistency
of universal constants over time (such as the length of the metre.) Their
research has enabled the production of extremely accurate clocks, and improved
G.P.S. systems.
Clockwise from left to right:
Roy J. Glauber - Harvard University Cambridge, MA, USA
John L. Hall - University of Colorado, JILA; National Institute
of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, USA
Theodor W. Hänsch- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik
Garching, Germany Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitätm, Munich, Germany
