“The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science” with Professor Massimiano Bucchi

About this episode

The episode discusses how the Nobel Prize has shaped the public image of science and its narratives throughout history.

In a world where scientific work often feels distant and difficult to grasp, the Nobel Prize makes science visible and understandable in a unique way. It is the most recognized and prestigious award for individual scientific achievement, giving a human face to great discoveries and turning them into powerful stories. The winners could be global figures like Albert Einstein or little-known doctors working in remote towns. Some prizes went to breakthroughs later proven wrong, and many names have faded from memory. Yet, as Massimiano Bucchi shows, the Nobel Prize shaped how people saw science throughout the twentieth century—an image that continues to influence us in surprising ways today. In his book Geniuses, Heroes, and Saints: The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science, Professor Bucchi tells the story of how the Nobel Prize transformed science into something more than a technical field. It became an epic human pursuit, shaped by history and shared with the public. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Professor Massimaino Bucchi. Professor Massimiano Bucchi is a leading scholar in the field of science communication and Professor of Science and Technology in…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Waseem Akhtar

Guest: Professor Massimiano Bucchi

Topics covered

• Nobel Prize
• science communication
• public perception of science
• scientific achievement
• historical narratives

Keywords

• Nobel Prize
• science
• public image
• Massimiano Bucchi
• scientific stories
• science communication
• historical impact

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Trento

Books & works: Geniuses, Heroes, and Saints: The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science, Newton's Chicken, Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology

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