Theodore Roosevelt Park

Following the annual event in Roosevelt Park, Chemistry Laureate Dr. Moungi Bawendi spoke with students at a nearby K-8 public school

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue yesterday joined Swedish Consul General Erik Ullenhag, Nobel Prize for Chemistry Laureates Dr. Moungi Bawendi and Dr. Louis Brus, Norwegian Consul General Heidi Olufsen, New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer, students from the nearby Anderson School P.S. 38, and members of the community to unveil six new Laureates’ names inscribed on the Nobel Monument at Theodore Roosevelt Park. After the celebration, Dr. Bawendi spoke with students from the Anderson School about the importance of hard work and curiosity.

“I am honored to unveil these latest inscriptions into the Nobel Monument, Parks’ only monument commemorating intellectual achievement,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Every year, we gather to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge and the extraordinary scientists, artists, and thinkers who have earned this ultimate recognition. I hope that this monument will continue to inspire young New Yorkers to pursue their intellectual passions and to remind us all of the importance of curiosity and determination.”

“The annual Nobel Monument ceremony is quite special to Sweden as a celebration of Americans who have successfully spent their lives searching for knowledge and solving challenges for humanity,” said Swedish Consul General Erik Ullenhag. “We are very proud of the strong Sweden-USA relationship and our scientific cooperation in so many fields, and this monument is a testament to the strength of that bond. American Nobel laureates like Dr. Bawendi keep Nobel’s spirit alive. We’re honored that the students at the Anderson School join us year after year, as these young people are the future of Nobel’s legacy.”

The Nobel Monument was erected in 2003 as a joint initiative of the Consulate General of Sweden and NYC Parks with the purpose of honoring American Nobel Laureates, as well as the prize’s founder, Alfred Nobel. The pink granite obelisk, designed by Swedish sculptor Sivert Lindblom with a bronze relief portrait of Nobel by A. Lindberg, was placed in the park named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States’ first recipient of the Nobel Prize.

“I’ve often come to this park and this museum with my family. It is an honor to have my name inscribed here along with giants of science.” said Chemistry Nobel Laureate Dr. Moungi Bawendi. “Science is about asking the why’s and the how’s of the world around us. When we did our work decades ago, we had no idea where it would end up - we were just following our curiosity. I hope this monument continues to serve as an inspiration to New Yorkers and young people to keep asking questions and follow their curiosity.”

The 2023 American Nobel Laureates added are: Dr. Katalin Karikó (Physiology/Medicine), Dr. Drew Weissman (Physiology/Medicine), Dr. Louis E. Brus (Chemistry), Dr. Moungi G. Bawendi (Chemistry), Dr. Claudia Goldin (Economics), and Dr. Alexei I. Yekimov (Chemistry).

No other country has been home to as many Nobel Prize recipients as the United States. Since the prize was first presented in 1901, hundreds of Americans have attained universal recognition for their achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature, and for their efforts to achieve world peace, and their names have been inscribed on the Nobel Monument.