The Chalmers alumni Gustaf Dalén received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1912 for the Agafyren, which was powered acetylene gas instead of electricity.
Gustaf Dalén came to Chalmers on 1 September 1892, aged 23. He attended what was called "Chalmers Lower" and was a diligent student. He was often seen at the then Chalmerist's inn Kafé Blå Bandet where he played chess. A year later, he graduated and was one of the few admitted to higher education at Chalmers.
He showed great interest in physics and constantly subjected his professor Wijkander to difficult questions. On June 10, 1896, Gustaf Dalén graduated from Chalmers. Borrowing money for further studies, he traveled to the Polytechnicum in Zurich, the leading technical institution of the time, and studied there for three semesters. Gustaf Dalén moved to Stockholm in 1901. However, he maintained contact with Chalmers. Among other things, he donated a large part of the Nobel Prize to further scholarships for talented students.
Gustaf Dalén received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1912
Gustaf received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1912 for the Agafyren, which was not powered by electricity but by acetylene gas. A small flame burned around the clock and during the day with minimal consumption by throttling the supply with a solvent. The technology was also used for railway signals. Other significant inventions are the gas stove, cinema lights, nitrous oxide equipment and equipment for anesthesia.
Read more about Gustaf Dalén on the official Nobel Prize site.
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2025-04-30: Gustaf Dalén, inventor of the AGA lighthouse and so far Chalmers’ only Nobel laureate, had an extraordinary belief in the future. This belief was not shaken by economic depression or the loss of his sight – a role model to remember in uncertain times, as spring reminds us of all that lies ahead.