Dinner in Honor of the 2017 American Nobel Laureates

Closing Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao
Dinner in Honor of the 2017 American Nobel Laureates
Swedish Ambassador’s Residence
Washington, D.C.
November 14, 2017

Thank you, Ambassador, for hosting this beautiful dinner in honor of America’s 2017 Nobel Laureates.

Tonight we celebrate achievement in the sciences, and the spirit of exploration that has characterized our country since its founding.

The earliest pioneers had vision, tenacity, courage and a sense of adventure. Often, they overcame formidable obstacles to achieve their goals.  Today’s scientific pioneers work to advance a different kind of frontier—the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding.  Yet their journey is no less daunting. The obstacles they overcome often require great feats of insight and ingenuity.  And each journey that results in a new discovery involves years of hard work, trial and error, and focused dedication.  

Whether it’s exploring the cosmos, the mechanisms of the human body, or human behavior, science offers endless unchartered realms to be discovered and understood.  Tonight’s dinner is a tribute to the spirit of adventure, curiosity and enterprise that explores and unravels these mysteries.     

Tonight, we salute this year’s winners. Thank you for sharing this evening with us!

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