J. Michael Kosterlitz
Interview
Interview with the 2016 Nobel Laureate in Physics J. Michael Kosterlitz on 6 December 2016, during the Nobel Week in Stockholm, Sweden. Interviewer is freelance journalist Torill Kornfeldt.
J. Michael Kosterlitz talks about the artefact he brought to the Nobel Museum; what brought him to his research field (1:52); topology (4:42); practical applications of his work (11:30) and about persons who have inspired him (12:37).
The 2016 Nobel Laureates gathered for a conversation about research, drive and vision on 11 December 2016. The conversation was filmed at the Grünewald Hall at Stockholm Concert Hall, and was hosted by BBC World’s Zeinab Badawi.
“It just feels a little bit odd getting this news in an underground carpark outside Helsinki”.
Telephone interview with Michael Kosterlitz following the announcement of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, 4 October 2016. The interviewer is Adam Smith, Chief Scientific Officer of Nobel Media.
Interview transcript
Michael Kosterlitz: Hello?
Adam Smith: Hello, my name is Adam Smith. I’m calling from Nobel Media, which is the media organisation of the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. We run the official website for the Nobel Prize. Have you already heard the news of the announcement of the Physics…?
MK: No, I haven’t heard anything. I’m talking from an underground car park in Helsinki, Finland, right now so I can barely hear you.
AS: It has just been announced in Stockholm that you are one of the recipients of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
MK: Jesus. That’s incredible.
AS: [Laughs]
MK: That’s amazing.
AS: So the Prize is given to yourself, Duncan Haldane and David Thouless for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.
MK: Oh that’s, yes, thank you, that’s, this is quite amazing. Thank you very much indeed.
AS: I must say you sound very calm.
MK: Er, yes. It just feels a little bit odd getting this news in an underground car park outside Helsinki.
AS: [Laughs] Actually, maybe remaining in the underground car park is a good option because you’ll be safe from the onslaught of press that will now descend.
MK: True, yes, but I guess I’ll have to face it eventually.
AS: I actually was given your number by your son at home, and I have to say he was absolutely elated.
MK: I’m sure that he is elated, but not half as elated as I am.
AS: [Laughs] That’s lovely. Oh, well, many congratulations from Nobelprize.org, and if you go to Nobelprize.org you will of course see the announcement of the news there.
MK: Thank you very much.
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Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.
See them all presented here.
