Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative Austin

The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative is a global program that seeks to bring Nobel Prize winners in closer contact with the larger scientific community, particularly younger scientists. Students from neighboring universities and from public schools are also invited. This is the first time the event has been held at UT Austin. Since the initiative’s inception in 2010, events have been held at 30 universities on four continents.

The discussions will give an insight into the lives and work of Nobel Laureates and tackle topical issues such as how digital tools are changing science. The event will take place over two days, and registrants are free to join whichever sessions they wish.

The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative Austin will feature three laureates:

• Elizabeth Blackburn received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase."
• Andrew Fire received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of RNA interference — gene silencing by double-stranded RNA.”
• Robert Grubbs received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis."