The ceremony was opened by David E. R. Dangoor, Honorary Consul General of Sweden in New York. Veronica M. White, New York City Parks Commissioner, and Swedish Amb. Björn Lyrvall spoke, as did Nobel laureate Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz.
Amb. Aas spoke of the importance of such ceremonies and the need to celebrate society's intellectual achievements.
"It is fitting that in this majestic city, with its monuments to war heroes and sports heroes, we also have a monument to our intellectual heroes. The five people whose names are unveiled on this monument today have made – and continue to make – major contributions to all of humankind. It is fitting that we celebrate them in this manner, just as their predecessors have been celebrated. Their achievements are something we can all cheer for; when it comes to furthering human knowledge, we are all on the same team," he said.
"Norway is a small country. Yet we hope to make a big impact on the world. I hope I do not overreach when I say I see something of Norway in the five names newly inscribed on this monument. Each is just one person, but each has had an outsize effect on his field, and, by extension, on the world," Amb. Aas added.
Additional photos from the ceremony, thanks to our friends at the Swedish consulate in NY: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swedennewyork/sets/72157635853881823/
Notes on the laureates whose names were recently added to the monument
Dr. David J. Wineland was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for work in the field of quantum optics, studying the fundamental interaction between light and matter. It is thought that his research could lead to the development of a new type of superfast computer, which could affect our lives in much the way the development of the personal computer did in the previous century.
Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz’s and Dr. Brian Kobilka’s (Chemistry) research into cell receptors helps us understand how we sense our environment.
Alvin E. Roth and Dr. Lloyd S. Shapley (Economics) have come up with ways to help us match agents as well as possible – matching students to schools, for example, or organ donors to recipients.