Nobel Insights: Discover the fascinating stories that link the world’s finest minds
Childhood Memories
Nurturing a passion for precision
Theodor Hansch recalls how light sparked his interest in science, and he relives his childhood memor…
Toy soldiers
Alan Heeger's life as an experimental scientist began at four years old, when he took great care to …
What is creativity?
Even as a child, Alan Heeger experienced the indescribable joy in science that comes from conceiving…
Early Interests
John Mather highlights some of the events, places and people that shaped his early interest in scien…
Building useful skills
Richard Schrock hugely values the time he spent learning how to build his own equipment, and he stre…
Old school pals
Upon the advice of his graduate advisor, Sheldon Glashow pursued the notion that there should be a u…
An unusual path into physics
From an early age Eric Cornell was encouraged to take up a technical career by his family. It wasn't…
Inspiration and perspiration
Jerome Friedman discusses the importance of education, dedication and hard work, and he describes ho…
Value of Science
The role of science in society, and the immense impact science has on the way we live.
Path to a Nobel Prize
Giaever answers questions on childhood, the route into science, biophysics and his mentor.
The importance of curiosity
Sheldon Glashow describes his childhood interest in minerals, and he stresses how important it is th…
Audience Questions, Part 3
If Horst Störmer was a first year postdoctoral student, what would he study?
Pioneers, Idols and Teachers
I.T. student Priya meets Professor Cornell in the courtyard of Honeywell's lab at TCE to discuss eve…
Cornell and the Madurai Undergraduates
On the second day of the event undergraduates at Thiagarajar College of Engineering had the chance t…
Early days of LASER
John Hall sums up the early days of LASER research and the beginnings of his research with them.
Student Questions Part 4
What are the most important qualities graduate students should have when applying for research posit…
Student Questions Part 6
John Hall talks about his student days, the value of developing problem-solving techniques, and his …
Student Questions Part 12
John Hall comments on cultural differences between the US and China and the different ways in which …
Sir Harry Kroto in Atlanta
Sir Harry Kroto is one of Chemistry's best known scientists and these two days of entertaining and i…
The Appeal of Low Temperature Physics
What drew Eric Cornell to low temperature physics? What was the appeal of laser cooling and BEC in p…
Theory versus Experiment
Was it the theoretical side or the experimental side of physics that appealed to Eric Cornell back w…
Be Willing To Be A Beginner Again
Sanjana asks, "How do you continually better yourself?" For Eric Cornell, "The only way to go in sci…
Finding a Balance
How ought students go about selecting one particular field of research? Eric Cornell shares practica…
First Job in Physics
At what point did Eric Cornell realize he wanted to specialize in low temperature physics? Recalling…
Getting Involved in Science: The Influence of Mentors
Hailing from a small town in Kentucky, for Prof. Grubbs a career in science was not an immediately o…
Q&A - Part 3
What was Prof. Grubbs's most valuable experience as an undergraduate student that propelled him towa…
Q&A - Part 10
What motivated Prof. Grubbs during the transition from his undergraduate to graduate studies?
Teaching Is the Best Way to Learn Things
What did Prof. Grubbs want to be when he was growing up? The conversation turns to teaching and what…
Careers in Chemistry
Robert Grubbs gives practical advice to students at the University of Minnesota considering graduate…
Q&A - Part 9
One student asks about Prof. Gross’s student days – did he always conduct experiments in the lab, or…
The Appeal of Physics
What drew Prof. Gross to study physics in the first place? And can we calculate the speed of the exp…
On Being a Student for Life
Students are curious to know about Prof. Gross's college life. Did he have any unique study methods?…
What did you study in school, and what led you to be interested in something this revolutionary?
Prof. Fert describes his student days and states that he did not foresee the revolutionary nature of…
What was your motivation to work in your field?
As a PhD student Prof. Fert was intrigued by the effects of the electron spin. He was particularly i…
Who was your inspiration as a student?
Prof. Fert shares his thoughts on being drawn to both science and art in his student days.