Talk:List of Nobel laureates affiliated with Harvard University

Robert Woodrow Wilson
Robert Woodrow Wilson is a Senior Scientist at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics since 1994. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is a joint venture between Harvard and the Smithsonian Institution, and a scientist can either be employed by Harvard or the Smithsonian side of the center. Few days ago I was reading about a guy called Willie Soon, and I found some interesting details.

''The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in Cambridge, Mass., is a joint venture between Harvard and the Smithsonian Institution, housing some 300 scientists from both institutions. Because the Smithsonian is a government agency, Greenpeace was able to request that Dr. Soon’s correspondence and grant agreements be released under the Freedom of Information Act.''

''Though often described on conservative news programs as a “Harvard astrophysicist,” Dr. Soon is not an astrophysicist and has never been employed by Harvard. He is a part-time employee of the Smithsonian Institution with a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering. He has received little federal research money over the past decade and is thus responsible for bringing in his own funds, including his salary.''

Wilson has been employed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. He should be removed. Ber31 (talk) 00:08, 20 September 2020 (UTC)


 * I think the reading you found is indeed interesting. And I agree that we should probably place him under the table "Some visitors and staff not qualified as official academic affiliates" and explain what is going on. Minimumbias (talk) 03:10, 21 September 2020 (UTC)


 * I have removed Wilson from the main count. Ber31 (talk) 02:06, 26 September 2020 (UTC)

Eugene O'Neill
This is what O'Neill wrote in his Nobel bio:

''In the Fall of 1914, I entered Harvard University to attend the course in dramatic technique given by Professor George Baker. I left after one year and did not complete the course.''

O'Neill didn't enroll in a degree program at Harvard. He enrolled to attend a course delivered by Prof. Baker. He should be removed. Ber31 (talk) 02:25, 3 October 2020 (UTC)


 * He seemed likely to have enrolled in a degree program at Harvard but quit after one year due to financial reasons . I don't know how one could "enter Harvard university" to just take one course (maybe the academic system was quite different 100 years ago or the sources emphasized too much on the one course). Therefore, I think a safer move is to keep him in the list for now, unless there are other sources stating he was a non-degree student.Minimumbias (talk) 22:04, 3 October 2020 (UTC)


 * OK. Besides, I am ready for the 2020 awards. Ber31 (talk) 01:56, 5 October 2020 (UTC)
 * O'Neill was a special student at Harvard, and didn't enroll in a degree program. He will be removed. Ber31 (talk) 01:13, 6 October 2020 (UTC)


 * The sentence "...for O'Neil admitted as a special student in fall 1914. By the time O'Neil entered Harvard..." does not say he was not in a degree program. It only means he was admitted to Harvard and he enrolled in the University. I'm not sure what "a special student" here means. But I agree it's probably better now to put him on the temporary list instead of the main list, given that he seemed to only have taken one course there. --Minimumbias (talk) 02:35, 6 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Special students are non-degree students at Harvard. Ber31 (talk) 02:09, 7 October 2020 (UTC)


 * True for now, may not be true 100 years ago. But anyway, it's better not to place him in the main list. Minimumbias (talk) 02:17, 7 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Here is another source. O'Neill entered Harvard to take one course from Prof. Baker. Ber31 (talk) 02:21, 7 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Sure, the evidence is overwhelming now for his removal. Minimumbias (talk) 02:29, 7 October 2020 (UTC)

Lead photo
Having the Statue of John Harvard as the lead photo doesn't seem ideal, since John Harvard wasn't a Nobel recipient. Could we replace with a different photo? &#123;{u&#124; Sdkb  }&#125;  talk 22:19, 28 October 2021 (UTC)