Post #2253155

2026-04-18 17:46 UTC

It was not *the* medal -- he kept that at home. Apparently when you get a Nobel Prize you are also given a replica of the medal for display. It was a funny moment, though, when he saw the look on my face and could tell right away that I was not sure if I was allowed to touch it.

Replies (2)

@schamschula@mastodon.social 2026-04-18 18:11

@mcnees@mastodon.social Indeed, my department has been hosting an annual lecture series featuring Nobel laureates as the speakers for over twenty years. At least one of the speakers had the replica medal for the audience to handle.

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@Smutny@m.cmx.im 2026-04-19 03:06

@mcnees@mastodon.social Yeah I didn't know the replica medal thing until Hugo Duminil-Copin, one of the 2022 Fields medalists said he wished IMU do this as well. He enjoys public engagements, and lots of school kids ask to see the medal after the talk, which puts him in a somewhat tough spot. I think James Maynard actually let the Numberphile guy hold and touch it, and then it was back in the cabinet it went. Also, the stolen 2018 Fields medal in Brazil was never recovered. The thief got away clean. Somebody should write a short story about this.

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