California Science Center Applauds Local Laureates.

Since the inception of the Swedish Nobel Peace Prize, California has long held the dubious and unprecedented distinction of producing more Nobel Prize Laureates than any other geographical region in the world. Perhaps the secret to this phenomenon may best be revealed in the title of 1961 California Nobel Laureate Melvin Calvin's autobiography, Following the Trail of Light: a Scientific Odyssey. While Calvin received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in photosynthesis, in the book he explains he coined the phrase "following the trail of light" to convey the process of following an intellectual concept or idea.

Like Calvin many California Laureates have relentlessly pursued their own "trails of light." Through the years their results have yielded a quantum leap of scientific and technological advancements stemming from California. In fact, California's veritable breeding ground for research scientists, innovators and risk takers has not gone unnoticed. Scientists from around the world have come to California's prestigious academic institutions to pursue their work. The questions that begs to be asked is: how does California continuously produce leaders in the scientific field?

California's dedication to the fields of science and technology is chiefly evident in the resources available to individuals at all academic levels and begins as early as elementary school. Take for example the California State Science Fair at the California Science Center. Middle and high school-aged students are given a platform that encourages scientific exploration, discovery and manipulation. Each year over 900 students enter the intense State Science Fair competition with elaborate projects that transcend the ubiquitous garden-variety exploding volcano. The caliber of the work presented by these young science pioneers offers a glimpse at the state's technological future as these students follow and build upon their scientific concepts.

Younger students may whet their appetite for science through exposure to such immersion mediums as the California Science Center. Through stimulating hands on exhibits, children are introduced to the fascinating world of science and technology in a charged learning environment. Within the setting of the California Science Center, children are encouraged to fully interact with science as they gain a broader understanding of how science and technology impacts the world around them.

As California continues to pave the way for science and technological innovations, the California State Science Fair and the California Science Center remain committed to motivating and inspiring California's future Nobel Laureates. Like a dedicated farmer with unyielding faith in the seasons, resources like the California Science Center plant the seeds to keep the tradition of innovation alive. As we celebrate the Centennial of the Nobel Peace Prize and applaud the achievements of the California Nobel Laureates, the answer to how California has produced so many Laureates, seems quite simple. By instilling a passion, dedication and an unwavering interest in the field of science, California has nurtured the minds of the young and provided ripe opportunities for many individuals to follow their trails of light.