It’s a cliché, but it’s true — we go to Cornell, so we’ve all probably received a prize or two in our academic careers. It may have been on the local, state, national or even international level. (My greatest achievement in elementary school was probably being the sixth grade Spelling Bee champion ... yes, I was a bit nerdy.)

Nevertheless, some people are such visionairies — doing such brilliant work in their field that they get the big Kahuna of official recognitions: the Nobel Prize. Established in 1895 by the estate of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, it is awarded in several disciplines: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economics and Peace.

Cornell can claim to have nurtured (either as a student or a professor) a total of 32 Nobel Laureates, ranging from one of the earliest winners of the Peace Prize to this year’s winner in the Physiology or Medicine category.

This week’s issue of Daze features a spotlight on the legacy of Nobel winners from Cornell: who they are, their accomplishments and what kind of effect this world renowned award had on their lives. The stories are at times surprising, at times inspiring and always an integral part of what makes Cornell a world-class institution.

Maybe the next Laureate is sitting next to you right now, or it could even be you!

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