Vice-Chancellor Erik Renström was delighted to see everyone who wanted to come and celebrate Lund University's first Nobel Prize winner on this unique occasion.
The atmosphere in the University Hall was atmospheric and joyful. Anne L'Huillier's name could hardly be mentioned without the audience starting to applaud.
"Anne L'Huillier is a true academic and a role model who takes all her roles equally seriously and calmly continued her lecture after receiving the news of her Nobel Prize," said Erik Renström.
After Erik Renström's welcome speech, those present stood up and gave Anne L'Huillier three cheers.
Archivist Fredrik Tersmeden provided a historical perspective and talked about all the 'near-Nobel prizes' Lund has received. On a map of the Lund campus, he showed the Department of Physics, now the Pufendorf Institute on Östra Vallgatan where Manne Siegbahn made his discovery that led to a Nobel Prize, after he left Lund. At the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacology at Sölvegatan 10, now Geocentrum, first Bengt I Samuelsson and Sune K. Bergström and later Arvid Carlsson made their discoveries that also led to Nobel Prizes, after they moved to other universities.
Anne L'Huillier explained the research that earned her the Nobel Prize, experimental methods that generate so-called attosecond pulses. You can read more on the new Nobel page: Nobel Prize | Lund University.
Anne L'Huillier described how she was contacted by Claes-Göran Wahlström and Sune Svanberg in the fall of 1992 to come and show them how to use their new laser instrument. They wanted her to bring her own equipment. With a truck and a PhD student, she arrived in Lund 36 years ago and has stayed here since then.
Many have testified that Anne LHuillier is a dedicated teacher. She stressed that research and teaching go hand in hand.
"I find it difficult to understand those who only do research. I think the description in the strategic plan that research should be intertwined is a nice expression", says Anne L'Huillier.
Since October 3, her life has changed and when asked what she will do now, she replies that her next year is fully booked.But then she looks forward to going back to research and teaching.
"My dream is to write a book about my research topic for students and PhD students."
The ceremony ended with four deafening gun salutes in Lundagård, with Anne L'Huillier firing the last one.
There is now a special Nobel page on www.lu.se that describes Anne L'Huillier's discovery and previous "near-Nobel prizes": Nobel Prize | Lund University.
On 18 December at 15:00, LTH will host a Nobel lecture by Anne L'Huillier and Pierre Agostini. This will also be streamed. More information will come later.