Original Design
The original design of The Nobel Laureate Walk is located on the North West part of campus between a series of STEM labs. The walk was originally designed to highlight Nobel Prize winners affiliated with Florida State University.
Current Statues
Information
Robert S Mulliken
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
“Robert Mulliken, a physicist and chemist, brought Florida State University its first Nobel Prize. While serving as Florida State University Distinguished Research Professor of Chemical Physics, Mulliken was awarded the 1966 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Molecular Orbital Theory in computing the structure of molecules. Mulliken was also Distinguished Professor of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Chicago.”
Paul Dirac
Nobel Prize in Physics
“Paul Dirac was an outstanding theoretical physicist whose work was fundamental to the development of quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics, He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics jointly with Erwin Schrödinger in 1933 for contributions to atomic theory. Known internationally as the father of modern physics, Dirac, for many years a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, joined FLorida State University’s faculty in 1971.”
Konrad Emil Bloch
Nobel Prize in Medicine
“Konrad Bloch was a co-recipient with Feodor Lynen of the 1964 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for discoveries concerning the mechanism and regulation of the cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism – how cholesterol is made in the body. Bloch held the position of Higgins Professor of Biochemistry at Harvard University from 1954-82 and was also professor of science in Harvard’s school of Public Health from 1974-84. He was an eminent scholar in the Florida State University Department of Human Sciences in 1988.”
James M. Buchanan
Nobel Prize in Economic Science
“James Buchanan taught at Florida State University from 1951-56. An economist renowned for his work on Public Choice Theory, Buchanan won the 1986 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science for his development of the contractual and constitutional bases for the Theory of Economic and Political Decision-Making. He has long been a professor with the Center for Study of Public Choice at George Mason University.”
John Robert Schrieffer
Nobel Prize in Physics
“Robert Schrieffer won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics with John Bardeen and Leon Neil Cooper, for developing the first successful microscopic theory of Superconductivity. In 1992, Florida State University appointed Schrieffer as a University Eminent Scholar Professor and Chief Scientist of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, where he continued to pursue one of the great goals in physics: room temperature superconductivity.”
Sir Harold W. Kroto
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
“Harold ‘Harry’ W. Kroto, one of the co-recipients of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has been Francis Eppes Professor in Florida State University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 2003. With Richard Smalley and Robert Curl, he was responsible for the Nobel-winning discovery of Buckminster-Fullerenes or ‘Buckyballs’ – molecules consisting of 60 carbon atoms in the shape of a soccer ball. He plays a key role in the development of the University’s Initiatives in bio-nanotechnology, and he is known for his outreach programs and outstanding innovations in teaching.”
Rationale
The Nobel Laureate Walk is a part of phase III of the Legacy Walk created by Florida State University in order to provide a historical tour of Florida State University’s history, architecture, and legacies. Phase III is dedicated to sciences and scientific research, which includes the Nobel Laureate Walk in its commemoration of Florida State University staff and alumni who are Nobel Prize winners.
Located between the College of Medicine and the King building, the Nobel Laureate Walk has a sign at the entrance which states “Nobel Laureate Walk / Not an ADA route to King bldg & Spirit Way Garage”. The back entrance is only accessible by stairs, leading to a stone walkway. It is lined with seven lampposts down the center. Lining the walkway, there contains trellis’ and small plant beds, with stone seating to each side. Twelve podiums are located to the sides of the walkway, with six bronze busts containing Paul Dirac, Konrad Emil Bloch, Robert Sanderson Muliken, John Robert Schrieffer, James M Buchanan, and Sir Harold W Kroto. Under each podium containing busks, there are plaques of each Nobel Laureate Prize winner, outlining their achievements and connection to Florida State University.
The Nobel Laureate Walk was created in order to memorialize Florida State university faculty who have won the Nobel Prize. In honor of their achievements in science, lifelike head statutes were created of each winner.
The monument is currently showcasing winners of the Nobel Laureate Prize who have worked at Florida State University. Statues of these figures' heads are placed upon podiums, accompanied by a plaque which elaborates on their major achievements, the year they won the Nobel Laureate award, and their connection to the school. The statues line a tile walkway, with their heads facing towards the path, with space inbetween which allow for an area just behind the statues for seating.
Through the use of the busts and heads, there is an emphasis on the immortality of the figures being depicted. While being a realistic depiction, only representing the heads gives a sense of unrealism. The use of highlighting the heads and faces of the laureates allows potential audiences to connect with the most recognisable features of the men featured. The face is the most expressive part of the body, and it is how we primarily communicate ideas to each other. Having the heads face the path forces viewers to look at and connect with the statues as they walk through the monument. This gives off the impression that the laureates are looking upon a new generation of scholars studying or visiting Florida State’s campus. Additionally, the plaques below the heads are intended to be read as you walk through the path, showcasing the glory of past affiliates of FSU as well as their achievements and contributions to their field. ​
The walkway is accessible to most who wish to explore the campus. Standing as a point of interest on the Legacy Walk, the Nobel Laureate Walk encourages viewership and interaction from its audience. There are no barriers between the statues and the walkway, allowing the audience to approach the statues and gain more information about each individual being showcased. In the interactions students are able to have with the memorial, it acts as a way to preserve not only the history of these Nobel Prize winners, but also the history of the school in its inclusion in tours. All statues are facing the walkway, forcing audiences to focus on their faces, bringing a sense of connection between the viewers and the Prize winners. With the Nobel Laureate Walk showcasing those who have worked at Florida State University that have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, the memorial empowers students who view it. The Nobel Laureate Walk serves as a sense of pride and glory in its exhibition of Nobel Prize winners and their connection to the school. There is a sense of honor in attending a school with notable figures, and so the memorial also acts as a way to bring recognition to the success of the school.​
In the inclusion of only the heads, the memorial immortalizes these winners, ensuring they are well remembered for future generations. Busts are typically meant to commemorate the legacy of their likeness, and the same idea is implemented in this memorial as the Nobel Prize winners are being celebrated for their achievements in science. The Busts also lead to a sense of relatability for its audience. Being almost to scale, the statues are illustrated as being on the same level as the audience, strengthening the connection between the two. Those who view the memorial are identifying with those who are being celebrated for their achievements, bringing forth the message that they are able to achieve greatness as well. The inscription in the plaques strengthens the link between student and Nobel Prize winner, as it is sure to include each winner’s connection to Florida State University, in addition to the the great achievements they were able to accomplish. Students are given greater confidence in the school’s abilities, as well as their own, as they are able to see what can be achieved through the school and the possibilities they have. As the statues line the walkway, facing those who travel along it, it creates a walkway of achievement, giving the sense of previous significant Florida State figures are now watching the new generation follow in their footsteps.
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