, 2011, physics
鈥淢ore than anything, the prize has given me a voice that I can use on behalf of science. Whereas before I could, and I think did, say sensible things, as a Nobel laureate my views are translated into public talks on radio, op-eds, and meetings with business people, policy-makers, and politicians. I try to use this voice responsibly. One of the pitfalls of being a Nobel winner is that our voices are too loud when it comes to providing personal opinion 鈥� and in this respect, I need to be far more careful than I used to be about what I say and what I write.鈥�
, 1980, chemistry
鈥淲inning is a great moment because it鈥檚 an affirmation by fellow scientists. I tried not to let it influence my life terribly. You can find yourself spending years travelling and talking right after winning. I tried not to do that. It probably changed my life in the sense that it gave me the confidence to leave the university I was at and run a company [Biogen].鈥�
, 2009, economic sciences
鈥淎lthough the prize has had a mixed effect, the net effect has been very positive. Prize or not, my academic life had been very satisfying. The pleasure of the prize 鈥� to me, my family, old friends, my students and colleagues 鈥� has nonetheless been very real. The downside is that there have been endless requests. Although many of these have been satisfying, they have taken up a lot of time.鈥�
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, 2004, physics
鈥淚 get more invitations and opportunities. There are great parties to go to. But mostly it鈥檚 given me a bigger perspective to think about history in a different way, the history of physics, having been part of it, knowing that in a very concrete way it鈥檚 done by actual people with laws and limitations. It鈥檚 given me a different perspective on what the whole enterprise is. I wrote a book for the public in the immediate aftermath of winning and had a hard time doing anything else. Now I鈥檓 writing another book which gives that bigger perspective of what the whole enterprise is all about and how it fits into the human endeavour. I don鈥檛 think I would have conceived of doing such a thing before the prize, and the publishers wouldn鈥檛 have been as interested.鈥�
, 1997, chemistry
鈥淥ne of the things I have enjoyed is meeting the Nobel literature laureates. I had a long debate with G眉nter Grass on one occasion about the value of science in society. We agreed to differ at the end of it. I also met and got to know somewhat Seamus Heaney, the poet, and found him a very civilised man. And then of course you get to meet politicians and other heads of state and so forth. Meeting people one would not have met 鈥� that鈥檚 the coolest and most fulfilling part of being a laureate.鈥�
, 2008, chemistry
鈥淚t has meant that I鈥檝e been much more of a participant in public lectures, for schools, for undergraduates, and high school students and even elementary school students. I am the past president of the , and maybe the Nobel had something to do with that. I鈥檝e been able to participate in a more rigorous way in the and the . I鈥檝e been able to participate more because of the fame of the award. That鈥檚 been a very nice perk 鈥� to be asked to take part and to be active in these societies that have been good and supportive of me over the years. It鈥檚 a way of giving back.鈥�
