THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021

 

April 14, 1988

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Dr. Abdus Salam
Director

International Centre for
Theoretical Physics
P.O.B. 586

Miramare

Strada Costiera 11

34100 Trieste

Italy

Dear Abdus Salam:

There obviously was some merit in the Paris meeting of
Nobel laureates since it gave me a unique opportunity to
get to know you.

But I share your skepticism about "the formalization of
the Nobel laureates role". I am not so worried about the
degradation of our currency, as I am that the winning of a
prize is not an automatic criterion of compassion or social
wisdom. On the contrary the prize has given a number of
dubious personalities an inappropriate license to speak as
if from expertise.

I have urged on Elie that he scan the Nobel laureates
that he has come to know, and select a special subset of his
own personal choosing as the nucleus of the kind of ongoing
"organization" about which he has such an extraordinary
vision. But there are many more people who are not in the
"Nobel Club", and could make extraordinary contributions,
than are in it.

For the time being I prefer that you keep my views on
this matter strictly entre nous (and Elie of course). I am
sure that Elie is most attentive to and heedful of your
advice.

I hope that you and Arturo Falaschi, who is now in
Trieste for the UNIDO-sponsored biotechnology effort, have
gotten to know one another. He is an excellent molecular
biologist, a first rate human being, and a superb choice for
the responsibilities of leadership in technological programs
for broad human benefit.

ra)
Ph

KP
Us, eset
Dr. Abdus Salam
April 14, 1988

-2-

Please let me know when you may next be in New York
and let us have a chance to get together. I enjoyed your
essays.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Encls.
e277?
Gard

CL: Chie Wiesel