McMaster University: Nobel Laureates Donna Strickland and Myron Scholes honoured at street naming event
On October 4, Donna Strickland, Eng Phys alumna and Nobel laureate, returned to campus to celebrate the naming of Strickland Way. Though Scholes was unable to attend in-person for the celebrations, he shared some pre-recorded video messages during the event.
Strickland Way runs from A.N. Bourns Science Building to the Gerald Hatch Centre and Scholes Way runs from the David Braley Athletic Centre to Togo Salmon Hall.
Throughout the day, Strickland connected with McMaster students, faculty, alumni and leaders with intimate chats and a Q&A event.
She began the day in a setting very familiar to her. Eng Phys students gathered around a table in a lab in Burke Science Building, where they asked Strickland questions related to life as a researcher and Nobel Prize winner.
She imparted wisdom including an important life lesson to communicate effectively with different audiences as a physicist, professor, and scientist.
Tweet by Aj, a student, about meeting Donna Strickland
Donna Strickland sits at a table with her arm raised in exclamation, students around the table smile at her Donna Strickland talks to a few students
Before heading to lunch, Strickland took her first look at the new street signs bearing her name.
Donna Strickland stands under her street sign, Strickland Way Donna Strickland stands under a sign that reads Strickland Way
Emma Magee, a chemistry student, and a lucky participant of the Faculty’s “Stricktly the Best” Instagram contest, had the opportunity to have a photo taken with Strickland and the new sign, a dream come true for Magee.
Donna Strickland stands with Emma Magee under the Strickland Way street sign Donna Strickland stands with Emma Magee who is wearing a shirt that says Sticktly the best
Donna Strickland and David Farrar pull off a cloth revealing the Strickland and Scholes Way street signs
Following lunch, more than 100 people filled the Concert Hall in Wilson Hall as Chemical Engineering student, Shayna Earle and recent iBioMed graduate, Mosana Abraha, led a Fireside Q&A Chat with Donna.
Myron Scholes was also featured on video during the event and he answered questions about his Nobel win and economics research.
Tweet by McMaster Eng about Myron Scholes
Attendees received a free t-shirt emblazoned with “Sticktly the Best” across the front upon entering the event.
Donna Strickland stands with Shayna Earle and Mosana Abraha under the Strickland Way and Scholes Way street signs
Questions that were asked were submitted by members of McMaster community and asked live by attendees. Here’s a few highlights:
Strickland’s top three skills alumni should work on that will excel them in their career are:
1. Patience
2. Have love for what you do
3. Teamwork