By Eric Guzman '12
In celebration of the recent 2011 Nobel Prize recipients, the economics department hosted the 2011 Nobel Prize Lecture which brought inviting faculty members together to discuss the Nobel Laureates and their respective contributions.
Visiting Assistant Professor of English Kristine Santilli, Ph.D. spoke about the 2011 Nobel Laureate for the Prize in Literature, Tomas Transtromer. Transtromer was awarded the prize because, “through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Santilli shared some of Transtromer's poetry and explained that the subject of many of his poems focused on a sense of center and inner life within humans, something few poets can capture as beautifully as he does.
The 2011 Nobel Laureate for the Prize in Economics was covered by Visiting Professor of Economics, Martha Olney, Ph.D. The Prize was split between two people, Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims, “For their empirical research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Olney explained that although their research was done in the late 1970s, the findings have been the basis of macroeconomic research ever since. Sargent studied various equations to predict how individuals will spend or save money and Sims worked with a statistical method using time series data to determine future projections.
The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was divided. One half was awarded to Saul Perlmutter and the other half was jointly awarded to Brian P. Schmidt and Adam G. Riess for, “The discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe through observations of distant supernovae,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Their research involved looking at supernovae, or exploding stars, which give off brilliant bursts of light. By observing the relative brightness of supernovae from many different galaxies, the team was able to measure how far away they were. Over time, and after observing a series of different supernovae, the accelerating expansion of the universe was discovered. Associate Professor of Physics, Rose Finn, Ph.D. said that this was an interesting story of science. She explained that Perlmutter was working with a team separate from Schmidt and Riess, competing actually, and ultimately reached the same findings at the same time. Their similar conclusions helped the science community accept the model.
Fr. Russel Murray, O.F.M., Ph.D. spoke about the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman who won, "For their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Murray added that here at Siena we have an opportunity to live in peace and have a bright future. He encouraged us to realize that it is our obligation to make sure others have the chance to live that way as well.
By highlighting the accomplishments of the 2011 Nobel Laureates for Literature, Economics, Physics and Peace, the faculty presenters were able to effectively engage students from a variety of majors in a well-rounded conversation, which is a great demonstration of part of the College’s new Strategic Plan: Living Our Tradition.
Photo Credit: Tim Latterner '15
