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Published 12 January 2017 by Gero von der Stein

Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies Passed Away

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings mourn the death of Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Oliver Smithies. He died on Tuesday, 10 January at the age of 91. Smithies was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2007 alongside Mario Cappecchi and Martin Evans “for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells”. Oliver Smithies was a prolific inventor and devised the method of using potato starch as medium for electrophoresis gel. During his four participations in Lindau Meetings he was especially beloved by the young scientists. For them, his lectures have always been an incredible source of inspiration regardless of their scientific discipline.

To learn more about the life of Oliver Smithies, visit his profile in the mediatheque. A virtual tour through his lab and workshop is available as part of the Nobel Labs 360° series.

Oliver Smithies at his discussion session in Lindau 2010. Photo: Ch. Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Oliver Smithies at his discussion session in Lindau 2010. Photo: Ch. Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

Smithies with his wife Prof. Nobuyo Maeda at the Smithies with his wife Prof. Nobuyo Maeda at the “Discoveries” exhibition on Mainau Island in 2010. Photo: Ch Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

Sharing advice and inspiration with young scientists. Photo: Ch. Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Sharing advice and inspiration with young scientists. Photo: Ch. Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

A dedicated hobby aviator, Oliver Smithies always kept looking for new horizons. Photo: R. Schultes/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings A dedicated hobby pilot, Oliver Smithies always kept looking for new horizons. Photo: R. Schultes/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

Gero von der Stein

Gero von der Stein worked for the communications department of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings from 2013 to 2019. As head of communications, he was responsible for all public relations activities of the Council and the Foundation. Every summer during the Lindau Meetings, he is enthralled by the informal exchange between scientists from more than 80 countries.