COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a celebration on Ohio State’s campus in honor of one of the world’s best.

What You Need To Know

  • Pierre Agostini won the Nobe Prize in Dec. 2023 for his work with electrons that could help scientist better diagnose diseases

  • Agostini is a professor emeritus of physics at The Ohio State University

  • Agostini donated a replica of his Nobel prize medal to The Ohio State physics department

Pierre Agostini, one of the newest Nobel prize winners, returned to the place he calls home. This time with a medal that fewer than 1,000 people in the world have ever received, the Nobel Prize.

“Grateful for the OSU physics department to have supported me at that time. Yeah,” said Agostini.

That gratitude prompted Agostini to donate one of his replica Nobel prize medals to the school’s physics department. He won the award last fall for his work in the field of electrons, and research that could lead scientists to better diagnose diseases.

“This is what we do every day here at Ohio State. And to be recognized on an international scale is so fantastic,” said Dawn Larzelere, associate vice president of operations for research and innovation at OSU. 

The honor of this magnitude is inspiring his students. That’s why so many of them joined the celebration of one of their beloved professors.

“Today, Pierre being on campus definitely inspires not only the students that we have here on campus today, but the next generation of physicists here across central Ohio in the state of Ohio. So it is wonderful to happen here today,” said Larzelere. 

Despite being the guest of honor, Agostini didn’t want to keep the spotlight on himself. Instead, he hoped the award can help motivate those on campus to think outside the box and achieve their dreams.

“Try to do something else. All right. Use your imagination and your passions and your will to understand things in physics,” said Agostini.