A trio comprising American Carl Deisseroth, professor of Bioengineering and Psychiatry and Human Behaviour at Stanford University, and Germans Peter Hegemann, senior professor of Neuroscience at Humboldt University, Berlin, and Georg Nagel, professor of Molecular Plant Physiology at the University of Wurzburg, won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work on how light can illuminate brain functions, known as optogenetics. Their achievement reflects years of dedication, sustained research and exceptional academic expertise. Yet the three collectively received 12 million Swedish crowns, amounting to around $400,000 each. In contrast, US Open tennis champions Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina reportedly earned $5 million each for their victories — about 12 times the Nobel purse per winner. Novak Djokovic has earned around $194.8 million in career prize money, besides endorsements, while Serena Williams has earned about $94.8 million in prize money. This raises an interesting question: which career is more rewarding — research or professional sport? Both demand intelligence, discipline and years of dedication, though in different ways. Ultimately, perhaps the best advice is simple: follow your passion, chase your dream and let your heart decide.
ELVIDIO MIRANDA, Via email
