Katalin Karikó exhibition at the University of Szeged with award photos and archival documents
An exhibition presenting Katalin Karikó's awards can be visited at the University of Szeged since yesterday.
The most interesting awards of the more than 100 recognitions of the SZTE alumna are on display in the exhibition space of SZTE TIK in the form of press and art photos, as well as archival documents of her former school competition successes.
In his talk opening the exhibition, Dr. Gábor Szabó, professor of physics, academician, and chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Szeged Foundation, remembered their university days together. As it turned out, physics major Gábor Szabó and biology major Katalin Karikó both spent their student years at the iconic Herman College.
At the exhibition, a photography project of the SZTE International and Public Relations Directorate is complemented by the Karikó collection of the SZTE Klebelsberg Library. The diplomas and medals on display in the three glass cabinets prove that academic competition is an effective tool for discovering and developing talents.
"Information characterizing Katalin Karikó's life and academic career is available in three languages - Hungarian, English, and German - at a virtual exhibition of the SZTE Klebelsberg Library's Gallery and Media Repository. The database will soon be expanded, because we will also translate the texts into French." - announced Dr. Gyula Nagy, Director General of SZTE Klebelsberg Library.
As part of the opening ceremony, Dr. Karikó handed over relics from her high school and university days for the collection of the library. Among them were Katalin Karikó's pen holder from her school days, Smena camera, her school notebooks, and her university biology notes with her own drawings.
She recalled that she was awarded for her faculty work and study competition results as a student at the Móricz Zsigmond High School in Kisújszállás. She was the first to receive the school award - the Gusztáv Jermy Prize - as a student, and the school then awarded it to Albert Szent-Györgyi, who was already a Nobel laureate at the time and was in correspondence with the school's biology faculty.
Both awards are now placed next to each other in the fourth glass cabinet at the TIK exhibition. Another interesting fact is that 67 years after Szent-Györgyi, Karikó also won the American Lasker Award decorated with a winged Nike.
After the exhibition opening, Professor Karikó greeted the more than 200 students and teachers who gathered for the 11th Szent-Györgyi Study Competition and held a motivating speech about the importance of study competitions, endurance, the highs and lows of her career, and the important work of mentoring teachers.
The exhibition titled "Katalin Karikó's recognitions - from study competitions to the Lasker Award" can be visited at SZTE's József Attila Education and Information Center at Ady Square until December 31, 2023.
Photos: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
