Archive for October, 2009

2009 Nobel Prize winners and US Universities

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009


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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009 was awarded to Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak “for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase”. Elizabeth H. Blackburn is a Professor of Biology and Physiology in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. Carol W. Greider is a Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics and Professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University. Jack W. Szostak is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.



The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009 was shared by Charles K. Kao “for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication” and Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith “for the invention of an imaging George E. Smith earned his PhD from the University of Chicago with a dissertation of only 3 pages.



The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009 was shared by Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath “for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome” Venkatraman Ramakrishnan got his Ph.D. in Physics from Ohio University in 1976 and then spent two years studying biology as a graduate student at the UC San Diego while making a transition from theoretical physics to biology. Thomas A. Steitz is a Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University.



The Nobel Prize in Literature 2009 was awarded to Herta Müller of Germany “who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed”.



The Nobel Peace Prize 2009 was awarded to the US President Barack Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” Barack Obama earned his and BA from University of Chicago and JD from Harvard Law School.



The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2009 was shared by Elinor Ostrom “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons” and Oliver E. Williamson “for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm”. Elinor Ostrom is a Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis at Indiana University and Research Professor and the Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity at Arizona State University. Oliver E. Williamson is a Professor Emeritus of Business, Economics and Law at University of California, Berkeley.

Reference: official web site of the Nobel Foundation

app2us.com interviews the president of Stanford University

Sunday, October 25th, 2009


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Professor John Hennessy is one of the most renowned Computer Scientists in the world and a pioneer in the field of RISC architecture. His books on Computer Architecture, co-authored with Dr. David Patterson, are one of the most widely read textbooks. Professor Hennessy is the President of the Stanford University. It is a matter of great pride for us that Professor Hennessy decided to interview with app2us.com last month.



In response to a question, Professor Hennessy said, “Stanford’s distinguishing characteristic is its pioneering spirit and focus on research that contributes to the public good. There is no better environment for innovation. The world today is facing enormous challenges, ranging from emerging infectious diseases that become global threats to the impact of climate change on our planet’s ecosystems, from threats of terrorism to the persistence of poverty. At Stanford, we believe we can help address these problems, both through groundbreaking research and through the education of the next generation of world leaders. For students who are interested in taking on the big challenges and making a difference, we hope you will consider applying to Stanford. We think you will find the university a place that will nurture your dreams and help you achieve your goals.” For the full interview, please visit the interview page.



With this exclusive interview we are making good progress with our interview series aimed at inspiring our readers. In the future we will be interviewing more Professors, successful professionals, university administrators and even recent students to bring you insights into the academic and professional life in the USA.