Leif Anderson was among 1,500 students who took part in Minnesota History Day at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis campus in May. Leif is inspired by Alfred Nobel and his work as a chemist, engineer and peacemaker.
You could say Leif Anderson had a dynamite finish to eighth-grade at Cook County Middle School, earning an Honorable Mention at Minnesota History Day on May 2 with his presentation on the inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel.
Approximately 1,500 students, as well as teachers, family members and judges gathered at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis campus for the state competition. Leif made it to the second round of judging at History Day.
His exhibit was titled Alfred Nobel: A Spark of Inspiration and Leif is quick to point out that Nobel did much more than invent the powerful explosive.
However, that almost was Nobel’s legacy, explained Leif in an interview last month. Leif recounted the interesting tale of why Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist and engineer, decided to establish the Nobel Peace Prize. Leif said when Alfred Nobel’s brother Ludwig died, the press heard that it was Alfred who had passed away. The obituary spoke of Alfred as a warmonger who created an explosive that caused the deaths of many, many people.
Nobel regretted that his invention had been used for so much destruction and he created the Nobel Prize to leave a better legacy, to reward people who had worked to benefit mankind.
Asked how he found that interesting story and all the other information about Alfred Nobel that won him Honorable Mention, Leif said a great deal of information can be found online at the official Nobel Prize website, www.nobelprize.org.
But much of his information was gathered by attending the Augsburg College Nobel Peace Prize Forums. The Augsburg Forum—the only such event held outside of Norway—is held in Minnesota thanks to our state’s strong ties to the Scandinavian Lutheran community.
Leif has attended the Augsburg College Forum several times and has been able to hear past Nobel Laureates speak. Asked if he would encourage others to attend the forum, Leif replied, “Definitely. It’s really interesting.”
And it comes in handy when the Minnesota History Day competition rolls around.
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