RE: Few Christian Nobelists- why??

Moorad Alexanian (alexanian@UNCWIL.EDU)
Mon, 20 Oct 1997 17:14:23 -0500 (EST)

At 01:59 PM 10/20/97 -0400, Vandergraaf, Chuck wrote:
>Allow me to inject a counter point in this discussion: I fail to see the
>significance of linking Christian scientists to the Nobel prize.
>Although there is no question that Nobel prize winners have done good
>science and deserve to be recognized, I would imagine that there is a
>lot of politics involved as well. It would be interesting to know
>exactly what the criteria are for electing a Nobel prize winner. This
>alone raises all sorts of questions:
>
>Does anybody know what the criteria are? Is there a point system? More
>often than not, scientific breakthroughs and advances are achieved by
>teams of scientists but how does one decide who in a team of scientists
>gets the Nobel prize? Is there a quota for minorities and, if so, what
>determines a minority? Should the scientists who cloned Dolly receive a
>Nobel prize? Is there such a thing as "politically incorrect" science
>that makes one ineligible for a Nobel prize? Certainly in non-science
>areas there is the appearance at least that one has to be politically
>correct to receive a Nobel prize.
>
>It would be interesting to be a "fly on the wall" in the chambers where
>these things are being discussed.
>
>The above statements should not construed as "sour grapes" because I
>didn't get a Nobel prize. I don't deserve one.
>
>
>T.T. (Chuck) Vandergraaf
>Geochemistry Research Branch
>Whiteshell Laboratories
>Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0
>Canada
>*vandergraaft@aecl.ca
>((204) 753-2311 xt. 2592

None of us knows what Nobel laureates believe after they received their
prizes. The average age of Nobel laureate is around 34. Therefore, there are
many years left for them to go deeper into what the whole thing is all about
beyond their limited research accomplishments. It is hard to know how these
accomplishments fit in God's overall plan. Receiving a Nobel prize may bring
a person closer to the state of wisdom of the Preacher in the Book of
Ecclesiastes who was fully aware of the vanity associated with most human
achievements.

Moorad