Does anybody know what the criteria are? Is there a point system? More
often than not, scientific breakthroughs and advances are achieved by
teams of scientists but how does one decide who in a team of scientists
gets the Nobel prize? Is there a quota for minorities and, if so, what
determines a minority? Should the scientists who cloned Dolly receive a
Nobel prize? Is there such a thing as "politically incorrect" science
that makes one ineligible for a Nobel prize? Certainly in non-science
areas there is the appearance at least that one has to be politically
correct to receive a Nobel prize.
It would be interesting to be a "fly on the wall" in the chambers where
these things are being discussed.
The above statements should not construed as "sour grapes" because I
didn't get a Nobel prize. I don't deserve one.
T.T. (Chuck) Vandergraaf
Geochemistry Research Branch
Whiteshell Laboratories
Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0
Canada
*vandergraaft@aecl.ca
((204) 753-2311 xt. 2592
>----------
>From: josephg@ccmail.orst.edu[SMTP:josephg@ccmail.orst.edu]
>Sent: October 17, 1997 1:55 PM
>To: Allan Harvey; asa@calvin.edu
>Subject: Few Christian Nobelists- why??
>
> Thanks for that post. It was encouraging to read. Finally a
> Nobel prize to a Godly man who happens to be a scientist.
>
> Sometime back there was an article in Christianity Today
> trying to describe why there were only 2 Evangelical
> Christian Nobel larueates. If my memory serves me right the
> author essentially concluded that it is to do with
> our generaly indifferent and poor attitude towards the
> matters of the mind. However, is it really fair to bemoan
> the lack of Christian Nobelist?
>
> Here are my some of my thoughts. I do not deny the
> reality that we are guilty (some denominations more than
> others) of being anti-intellectual and paying cursory
> attention to the matters of mind. But, we as Christians
> are called to a balanced life - we are accountable to God
> not just for the tangible products of our talents but also
> for the intangible products such as our character, the
> character of those in our family, our church and those whom
> we work with. This means we cannot afford to be solely
> committed to a 1-dimensional pursuit of uderstanding
> matter, at the expense of other God given priorities.
>
> I wonder whether there is some statistics on the
> character indices of the Nobel laureates. Such as the
> integrity of their marriages and families, how did they
> treat their employees, how did they treat their bosses.
> Questions on their work ethics, etc. It appears that that
> the world system inadvertantly rewards those who produce but
> is silent about the above costs. But do we as Christians
> continue to compare ourselves with standards that are
> questionable in setting our priorities in life? I don't
> want to sound like the proverbial fox and the sour grapes
> (Aesop's wisdom) though....
>
> When our fundamental calling in life is as
> "interceding and mediating priests" in whatever
> profession we are placed in, then how do we win Nobel
> prizes?
>
> Just some thoughts borne out of frustration of
> preceived frustration of my spiritual kinsman.
>
> ASA comments would be helpful
>
> Shalom
> gladwin
>