Nobel Prize Conversations  “Science takes time and you need to build up the knowledge so I don’t see why we shouldn’t start right now?” “When people think about other worlds, they think about other life.” Nobel Prize laureate Didier Queloz was a pioneering explorer of exoplanets – planets outside our own solar system –…

Nobel Prize Conversations ”In a number of my works, I am just narrating a tale for whoever is interested” In this podcast episode with literature laureate Wole Soyinka, conducted in November 2021, he talks about his photographic memory, his creative process and the question of who he writes literature for. His home of Nigeria figures…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “I try to lead a conversation rather than telling students what to think” ”Sometimes I make a mistake during the lecture, I’ll make an argument that’s not quite right and not even notice it, and a student will catch me. I just love it when students do that.” Economic sciences laureate…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “I see myself as the one who never gives up” In this podcast episode with Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, conducted in December 2021, she shares her heartbreaking life story of growing up during the Liberian civil war. The consequences from the war required her to grow up quickly or as…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “I guess I was halfway content with the idea that somehow I’d become an economist” Robert B. Wilson didn’t really see himself as an economist until he reached the age of 50. In this conversation, conducted in March 2021, Wilson speaks about his journey to becoming an economist, about how he…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “My aspiration really was to be like my role models, like Einstein” What is your aspiration in life? In this conversation, conducted in March 2021, Frank Wilczek tells us about his hope to make a mark on the world. He has released a new book, Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality, where…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “I knew I belonged in school and wanted to get a PhD. Before I even knew what it was, I knew I belonged” From very early on, 2018 physics laureate Donna Strickland knew she wanted to get a PhD. She didn’t know what it was but if it was the ultimate…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “Failure is an inevitable part of doing science. Most of what we do fails” Hear Robert Lefkowitz speak about failure and how to best deal with it. In this conversation, conducted in February 2021, Lefkowitz shares his experience of being a top student that all of sudden needed to deal with…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “I am very bad at giving up” Hear Roger Penrose speak about ideas, creativity and what is so special about blackboards. In this conversation, conducted in February 2021, Penrose also shares some stories from his childhood and how he eventually ended up in the field of physics. The host of this…

Nobel Prize Conversations  “This is the first time we have had a completely novel virus infection and we are trying to vaccinate our way out of it” In this conversation, conducted in January 2021, immunologist Peter Doherty speaks about how we should learn from the current corona pandemic to be better prepared for and…