| Eleven years ago Dec. 10, my husband, Robert Betts | | | | Norway. |
| Laughlin, walked up to King Gustaf of Sweden and | | | | This year five of the 13 new Nobel Laureates are |
| bowed his head to receive his Nobel Prize medal. | | | | women, the largest number to receive the award in a |
| Bob accepted his leather-bound diploma, shook hands, | | | | single year. The winners' work spans disciplines from |
| and then turned to bow in appreciation to the | | | | medical research into protecting chromosomes to |
| members of the Swedish Academy, other Nobel | | | | literature, from digital imaging and fiber optics |
| laureates and to an audience of millions watching the | | | | technology to economic research (visit for more |
| ceremony on television from all over the world. | | | | details). |
| I sat with my family in the second row of Stockholm's | | | | Many Nobel Laureates receive the prize for work |
| grand City Hall, tearfully acknowledging Bob's steady | | | | conducted over a lifetime. A few, like my husband Bob, |
| gaze as he bowed onstage. He had worked so | | | | receive it at a younger age. Bob was 47 when he |
| tenaciously to earn the right to stand on that stage, I | | | | received the award and he was on a short list for |
| could almost detect his sigh of relief and pride that his | | | | several years. |
| creative work had finally been recognized in this way. | | | | One thing I have noticed about Nobel Prize winners is |
| Bob won the Nobel Prize in Physics along with two | | | | their strong family connections. We attended the |
| colleagues for work he had done 14 years earlier as a | | | | 100-year anniversary of the prize in 2001. Every living |
| young theoretical physicist in what is known as the | | | | Nobel Laureate was invited back to Stockholm along |
| fractional quantum hall effect. It was only after his | | | | with their spouse for the week. |
| work had been verified by two independent labs and | | | | There were lots of opportunities to talk, and family |
| reviewed that we got word he had won the Nobel | | | | support was a theme I saw repeated across |
| Prize. | | | | nationalities. These powerful global leaders in their fields |
| Now as we prepare to recognize this year's Nobel | | | | need their families to balance their lives, and their |
| Prize and Nobel Peace Prize recipients on Dec. 10, it is | | | | families are enriched by their energy, focus and the |
| a good time to reflect on the awesome dedication that | | | | Nobel experience. |
| goes into winning the world's most prestigious | | | | The Swedes spend a year preparing to host the 1,250 |
| academic honor. | | | | guests who attend the lavish week of musical and |
| As you watch the recipients receiving the Nobel Prize | | | | flower-filled ceremonies to honor the laureates and |
| in Stockholm and the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, | | | | their families. Nothing is left to chance. All is flawlessly |
| Norway, think of their single-minded commitment to | | | | orchestrated with grace and elegance. |
| expand knowledge and improve life for all humanity. | | | | Receiving this highest honor affects not only the |
| The Nobel Prize is awarded to people who have | | | | laureate and spouse, but the entire extended family |
| completed outstanding research, invented | | | | over the long term. All are so proud to have played |
| groundbreaking techniques or equipment, or made | | | | some role in this human drama. |
| outstanding contributions to society. The Prize is | | | | As you watch the Nobel Prize ceremonies, know that |
| awarded at a ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 10, the | | | | the laureates' families have supported them with love, |
| date on which benefactor Alfred Nobel died. The | | | | flexibility and creativity to help them produce these |
| Nobel Peace Prize is awarded the same day in Oslo, | | | | great accomplishments for humanity. |