Shannon Babb
Utah State University
NSHSS Student Council and Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Recipient
My trip to Stockholm, Sweden to attend the SYISS Conference and
participate in the Nobel Prize festivities was absolutely incredible!
Here are some of the details...
I was invited to the event along with twenty-four of the top science
students from around the world. While I was there I presented my water
quality research in the same lecture hall that the Chemistry and Physics
Nobel Prizes are announced. I was able to talk to Sweden's Crown
Princess Victoria about my project, as well as work with students from
across Scandinavia to encourage them to pursue their "dreams" in science.
My group stayed at a historic hostel located on Ships Island, which is a
quick walk to the major shopping district of Stockholm. From my window
I could see the Royal Palace, as well as the world's second tallest
Christmas tree. Each morning I watched large sailboats sail up and down
the Baltic Sea, which surrounded the island.
The students in my group had the opportunity to meet the 2006 Nobel
Laureates as well as several past Laureates when we attended the Nobel
Foundation Reception. We had reserved seating at the Nobel lectures and
were asked questions at a Nobel medical press conference. The three
American students had the special opportunity to attend a Nobel luncheon
held at the home of the American Ambassador.
On December 10th--the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death--I was able
to attend the full Nobel Ceremony. Dressed in a blue "Cinderella" gown
and wearing an Austrian crystal necklace, I was driven to the event in a
white limo and escorted down the red carpet by Tobias, a student from
Poland wearing a black tux.
The Nobel banquet was held at City Hall and lasted for close to four
hours. In my opinion, I had one of the best seats in the hall and could
clearly see all of the Nobel Laureates as they spoke to the group.
After the meal, I followed the royal family up the Grand Staircase to
the Gold Room for the ball, where I danced the night away. It was truly
a perfect ending to an amazing week.
I hope everyone at NSHSS has a wonderful coming year.
Shannon Babb
