Rebirth of an academic Queen
Standing side-by-side at the center of the illuminated stage, holding the heavy gold medals, Julian and I stepped up to the microphone together.
"Science was never meant to be a private fortress or a instrument of empire," I began, looking out over the sea of faces, my voice clear, steady, and resonant. "It was meant to be a torch, passed from mind to mind, unburdened by paywalls, political vanity, or financial greed."