Join three Nobel laureates and a former member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry for Journey to the Nobel, a special conversation exploring the discoveries, questions and experiences behind some of the world's most celebrated scientific achievements.
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 | 4 p.m. CST | Free public webinar
What does it take to make a discovery worthy of a Nobel Prize?
Co-hosted by Rice University Global and the Consulate General of Sweden in Houston, this webinar offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from:
- Johann Deisenhofer – 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for groundbreaking work revealing the molecular structure of photosynthesis.
- Jack W. Szostak – 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, for discoveries explaining how chromosomes are protected as cells divide.
- Omar M. Yaghi – 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for developing innovative materials with potential applications in clean water, carbon capture and environmental sustainability.
- Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede – Rice University professor and former member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry (2020–2025).
From the first spark of a scientific question to a discovery that changes the world, panelists will share their personal journeys and offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the Nobel Prize process.
The program will open with remarks from Anna Hammarlund Blixt, Consul General of Sweden in Houston, and will be moderated by Caroline Levander, Rice University's Vice President for Global Strategy.
Free and open to the public. Registration is required.
