The Latest: French winner didn’t dare dream of Nobel prize

This is a image taken on Nov. 28, 2013 made available by the University of Groningen on Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 of Dutch scientist Bernard “Ben” Feringa. Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world’s smallest machines, work that could revolutionize computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (Jeroen Van Kooten/University of Groningen via AP)

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Latest on the Nobel prize in chemistry (all times local):

1:20 p.m.

Speaking to French TV channel itele, Jean-Pierre Sauvage called his Nobel Prize for chemistry a memorable moment and a big surprise.

“I have won many prizes, but the Nobel Prize is something very special, it’s the most prestigious prize, the one most scientists don’t even dare to dream of in their wildest dreams,” he said.

French President Francois Hollande congratulated Sauvage, calling the prize “a sign of recognition of the excellence of French and European research.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took to Facebook to congratulate laureate Ben Feringa.

“Fantastic news,” Rutte said. “All of the Netherlands is proud.”

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12:55 p.m.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has congratulated Jean-Pierre Sauvage for his “avant-garde” work.

“French research has once again been celebrated with a Nobel Prize,” Valls tweeted.

Sauvage was a researcher from 1973 to 2009 with France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) which tweeted its congratulations.

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12:35 p.m.

Stoddart’s daughter, Alison Stoddart, is also a chemist and said she was called by her father and that he was “absolutely ecstatic, absolutely delighted.”

“He was a little bit in shock, obviously early in the morning (in Chicago). He was very happy about the people he won the prize with,” said Alison Stoddart, speaking with the AP by phone from Cambridge, England.

She noted that Jean-Pierre Sauvage is a close family friend and colleague in particular.

As a chemist, Alison Stoddart, said she was pleased to see the work recognized. “It’s just really lovely, it’s fundamental chemistry; it’s synthesis in making these machines. … What it could make in years to come is very exciting.”

She described the winners as impassioned chemists

“They just make really interesting molecules and they love doing it and it’s just really nice they won together,” she said.

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12:20 p.m.

Officials at the University of Strasbourg, where Sauvage is a professor emeritus in the Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering, said they were overwhelmed and honored by the news. They said Sauvage plans to speak publicly in Strasbourg later Wednesday.

Sauvage’s wife, contacted by telephone, was on the verge of tears as she told people that her husband had won the prize.

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11:55 a.m.

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa have won this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing molecular machines.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences says molecular machines “will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems.”