Nobel Prize Conversations
Through their lives and work, failures and successes – get to know the individuals who have been awarded the Nobel Prize. The host for this podcast is Adam Smith, who has the happy task of interviewing our Nobel Prize laureates. Sit in on our conversations as we delve into how these personalities found their fields of interest — often by coincidence — how they view collaboration, curiosity and failure, and what keeps them going. The laureates share what they have learned from their career and what they like to do outside of their work – from music to fly-fishing.
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First reactions | Michael Woodford, prize in economic sciences 2026 | Telephone interview
“They're probably hoping I'll cancel the exam.” – Michael Woodford was scheduled to be setting his economics students an exam on the morning of October 12th, when he was woken by a call from Stockholm at 4:30am. Just after listening to the announcement of the 2026 prize in economic sciences, Woodford spoke to the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith about his feelings for the prize. He praised his
First reactions | Navi Pillay, Nobel Peace Prize 2026 | Telephone interview
In this call with the Nobel Prize soon after the announcement, Pillay says she feels overwhelmed about being a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. “A total surprise, I’m deeply honoured and touched.” – Navi Pillay received the news about her 2026 peace prize at an international conference in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice – more specifically in the famous Courtroom 600 where the WWII war criminals trials
First reactions | Anne Carson, Nobel Prize in Literature 2026 | telephone interview
“Start in the middle, I always say” – Anne Carson was sweeping the kitchen floor at her home in Reykjavík, Iceland, when the phone rang and she learned that she had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. “It seems a little insane,” Carson says in this conversation with the Nobel Prize just moments after the announcement. She also reveals that she has already started planning how to give
First reactions | Kenso Soai, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 | telephone interview
"I'm very excited to hear the news. Good news. Very good news." – In this brief conversation, recorded shortly after the announcement of his Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Kenso Soai speaks of how happy he is to have his group's work recognised. He tells the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith how the search for the foundations of homochirality is a problem first posed by Louis Pasteur, and
First reactions | Francis Halzen, Nobel Prize in Physics 2026 | telephone interview
"In retrospect, the most amazing thing is that we got funded for this project." – Francis Halzen recalls greeting each milestone in the creation of the massive IceCube neutrino detector under the South Pole not with pride, but with surprise. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith, recorded just after Halzen had learnt of his 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics, he speaks abou
First reactions | Peter Hegemann, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 | telephone interview
"Call me back, I have something important for you." – Belatedly recognising the Swedish prefix to the number he was asked to dial, Peter Hegemann called back to discover that he had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Here, in this conversation with the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith, he speaks about the pleasure of sharing the award with friends, the value of true
First reactions | Georg Nagel, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 | telephone interview
“I didn't expect this, really... I thought it's still too early to get this prize in medicine optogenetics.” – Georg Nagel's surprise upon learning that he was to be awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was evident. He received the news in Italy on a sun-drenched terrace, overlooking olive trees. In this brief conversation with the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith, he sha
First reactions | Karl Deisseroth, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 | telephone interview
"So much mystery now finally seems on the brink of elucidation." – Karl Deisseroth was working on a paper, late into the night, and had just gone to bed when the call came from Stockholm breaking the news that he had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In this interview with the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith, recorded while the rest of the household slept, he refl
'Translating the infinite sentence' Examining the work of László Krasznahorkai with translator Daniel Gustafsson
In this episode we discuss the work of 2025 literature laureate Lázsló Krasznahorkai with literary translator Daniel Gustaffson. Having translated many of Krasznahorkai's novels from Hungarian to Swedish, Gustafsson is an expert on his depictions of apocalyptic terror and long, winding sentences. Selections from Krasznahorkai's Nobel Prize lecture, interview and banquet speech are examined by
'Living through the AI revolution' Discussing our changing world with Nobel Prize laureates
"There's very few cases of more intelligent things being controlled by less intelligent things. Once they're a lot smarter than us, I don't think they'll put up with that." – Geoffrey HintonArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly developing and changing the world around us. In this special bonus episode we speak with Nobel Prize laureates to examine AI's growing influence on our society. From vari
'The art of collaboration' with 2025 physics laureates: John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis
Forty years ago, a series of experiments demonstrated that the bizarre properties of the quantum world can be made concrete in a system big enough to be held in your hand. John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis – all at different points in their careers – collaborated to make this groundbreaking discovery. Join us as host Adam Smith speaks with the 2025 physics laureates about the importanc
'What have we learned so far?' Mid-season reflections with Adam and Karin
At the halfway point of the season, Karin Svensson and Adam Smith reflect on what they have learned from conversations with Nobel Prize laureates and why there is no single mould for a successful scientist. They discuss the challenge of explaining complex ideas, the importance of embracing uncertainty and the sense of wonder that drives discovery. They also provide a sneak peek of the conversation
'The technological drivers of progress' with economic sciences laureates: Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt
We are living during a period of economic growth, but that hasn't always been the case. Throughout history, even during eras of technological advancements – economic growth was not a given. The 2025 laureates in economic sciences – Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt – help us to understand how scientific innovations and creative destruction impact society. Join us for this time
'Decoding the immune system' with 2025 medicine laureates: Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi
Patience, persistence and a strong will for never giving up. Discovering how the immune system is kept in check demanded a lot of our 2025 medicine laureates. Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi spent years finding out how our body's powerful immune system is regulated – leading to the development of medical treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Join us for our conversation w
'Where do ideas come from?' with 2025 chemistry laureates: Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi
Have you heard of MOFs? A new field of chemistry opened up with the discovery of Metal organic frameworks and the scientists behind it were awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Richard Robson, Omar Yaghi and Susumu Kitagawa all let their minds wander to unplanned places and changed chemistry forever. One of the most interesting and life-saving applications of MOFs is water harvesting, althou
First reactions | Peter Howitt, prize in economic sciences 2025 | Telephone interview
“I’m not one of these people who keeps the phone on, and the champagne in the fridge.” Peter Howitt certainly didn’t seem to be expecting the news of his 2025 prize in economic sciences. In this call recorded just after the announcement, he talks to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith about his longstanding friendship with fellow-laureate Philippe Aghion and how they started their collaboration in the co
First reactions | Philippe Aghion, prize in economic sciences 2025 | Telephone interview
“Peter, Peter, make yourself available, your phone, they’re trying to reach you!” Listen to Philippe Aghion telling Peter Howitt that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has been attempting to call him, captured as part of this call made shortly after the public announcement of their joint 2025 economic sciences prize. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith he also reveals his jo
First reactions | Joel Mokyr, prize in economic sciences 2025 | Telephone interview
“I had a whole list of people that I thought were going to win,” says Joel Mokyr, “And I wasn’t on it.” Waking early, he opened up his computer to find out who had been awarded the 2025 prize in economic sciences, and found emails saying ’Congratulations.’ Then, as Mokyr tells the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith in this brief call, he saw missed calls from Sweden on his phone and, “The suspicion started
First reactions | Michel Devoret, Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 | Telephone interview
“I would say a fundamental discovery really becomes true when you can apply it to something concrete.” In this conversation, recorded after two hectic days following the prize announcement, new physics laureate Michel Devoret reflects on the excitement of seeing the fruits of research. He also talks about his co-laureate John Clarke, one of his role models, together with Lord Kelvin. Devoret descr
First reactions | Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025 | Telephone interview
“I am just part of a huge movement. I’m humbled, I’m grateful and I’m honoured.” – The announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize came as a huge surprise to Maria Corina Machado. In this interview, recorded directly after the news was broken, she describes how honoured she feels, and highlights the strength of her fellow Venezuelans. “I accept this is as a recognition to our people,
Finding out the news | Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025
“Oh my god… I have no words.” – Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina Machado finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news with her directly before it was announced to the world. The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democr
First reactions | László Krasznahorkai, Nobel Prize in Literature 2025 | Telephone interview
“I’m very proud to be in the line of some really great writers and poets.” In this interview, new literature laureate László Krasznahorkai shares his happiness about his Nobel Prize, which came as a surprise. Krasznahorkai speaks about how bitterness is an important driver for him, and also highlights the importance of using your fantasy. “Without fantasy, it’s an absolute different life. To
First reactions | Susumu Kitagawa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 | Telephone interview
“This is the mind of the researcher in Japan,” says Susumu Kitagawa, “Don’t switch off the light, even at night.” In this short conversation recorded the day after the announcement of his Nobel Prize in Physics, Kitagawa talks to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith about his approach to tackling grand challenges, and how to keep a lookout for the unexpected. He also explains how his perspective on resear
First reactions | Richard Robson, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 | Telephone interview
“Some people thought it was a whole load of rubbish. But it didn’t turn out that way.” Richard Robson’s new concept for molecular architecture, which occurred to him while building models for teaching, was the starting point for the burgeoning field of metal–organic frameworks. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded just after his Nobel Prize in Chemistry was a
First reactions | Omar Yaghi, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 | Telephone interview
“I set out to build beautiful things and solve intellectual problems.” Omar Yaghi was just changing flights when he had heard the news that he had been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. For this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded as he was departing on the next leg of his journey, Yaghi speaks about his early life as a refugee in Jordan, the wonderful way his field h
First reactions | John Martinis, Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 | Telephone interview
“My wife is very kind to me, so she didn’t wake me up for a couple of hours.” John Martinis was sleeping when news of his Nobel Prize in Physics broke, but his wife Jean was up reading late into the night and received the calls, letting him sleep on. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, he talks about the excitement of learning how to investigate problems with his co-laure
First reactions | Fred Ramsdell, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | telephone interview
“I was out walking the dogs and she started yelling, and I thought there was a grizzly bear nearby.” Actually, what Fred Ramsdell’s wife was telling him, while on a hiking trip together, was that he had been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded early the following day, Ramsdell recall how the realisation dawned on
First reactions | John Clarke, Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 | Telephone interview
“I could not imagine accepting the prize without the two of them,” says John Clarke of his fellow Nobel Prize laureates in physics, John Martinis and Michel Devoret. In this short conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded just after the public announcement of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, Clarke recalls the electric atmosphere in the lab, 40 years ago, during their experimen
First reactions | Mary Brunkow, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 | Telephone interview
“My phone rang, and I saw a number from Sweden and thought, well that’s just spam of some sort, so I disabled the phone and went back to sleep.” Mary Brunkow clearly wasn’t expecting the call from Stockholm. This brief conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith catches the new medicine laureate at her dining table at 4:30am, an hour and a half after she had heard the news. She talks about the
First reactions | Shimon Sakaguchi, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 | Telephone interview
"I believe this will encourage immunologists and physicians to apply the T regulatory cells to treat various immunological diseases.” Shimon Sakaguchi, 2025 Nobel Prize laureate in physiology or medicine, has always been driven by the desire to find new ways to combat disease. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded just after the prize announcement, Sakaguchi speaks brief
A Time for Celebration: Adam Smith reveals what really gets our laureates celebrating
In this special bonus episode of Nobel Prize Conversations, we shine a light on the many ways achievements in science are celebrated — from quiet late-night breakthroughs in the lab to the glittering applause of the Nobel Prize award ceremony. Host Karin Svensson speaks with Adam Smith, Chief Scientific Officer at Nobel Prize Outreach, about why recognition matters, how laureates share their joy w
John Hopfield: Nobel Prize Conversations
“I’ve never been part of the gang. I was a one-man band playing little tunes.” – Meet physics laureate John Hopfield in a podcast recorded at his cottage in Selborne, England. Together with host Adam Smith, he reflects on the value of interdisciplinary work and how chemists and physicists might collaborate more closely.They also discuss the future of AI and Hopfield’s greatest fears about it.Read
Simon Johnson: Nobel Prize Conversations
"With the great power to invent technology comes a great responsibility." – In this lively and energetic podcast conversation, economic sciences laureate Simon Johnson talks about how the past, future and present are interconnected, as well as how science fiction and history are intertwined. He comes to the conclusion that “science fiction is history in reverse or history is science fiction in rev
Gary Ruvkun: Nobel Prize Conversations
“When we're doing genetics, we are tapping into that mythic power of change.” — In this conversation with molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun, we discover his scientific journey and find out that the world of genetics still has many fields left to explore.A natural storyteller, Ruvkun also shares some of his favourite tales with us – from his gap year in Latin America to how his grandparents emigrated
John Jumper: Nobel Prize Conversations
”I really love the notion of contributing something to physics.” — Chemistry laureate John Jumper has always been passionate about science and understanding the world. With the AI tool AlphaFold, he and his co-laureate Demis Hassabis have provided a possibility to predict protein structures. In this podcast conversation, Jumper speaks about the excitement of seeing how AI can help us more in the f
Victor Ambros: Nobel Prize Conversations
“The reason why I was doing science all these years is because I just love doing it.”– Medicine laureate Victor Ambros grew up on a farm with seven siblings. Throughout his career, he has seen collaboration as a crucial part of science.In this podcast conversation with Adam Smith, Ambros talks about his scientific journey and how much his father has influenced him. He also shares his experiences o
Daron Acemoglu: Nobel Prize Conversations
"Asking is hard. Once you realise there's an interesting question to develop answers to, it is even harder." – Growing up in Istanbul, Turkey, shaped Daron Acemoglu’s life and career in many ways. It sparked his interest in politics and social sciences and led to a research career investigating the differences in prosperity between nations. Today Acemoglu is exploring the future of AI and how we c
David Baker: Nobel Prize Conversations
"If you imagine each researcher as a kind of a neuron in the communal brain, then people call me a connection machine.” – David Baker is a true believer in collaboration. He sees mentoring as one of the most essential parts of his job. Baker spends most of his time at his laboratory and his colleagues explain his role as a connection machine as he connects “people who are working on things that ar
James Robinson: Nobel Prize Conversations
"I just think a book can change your life." 2024 economic sciences laureate James Robinson loves books – he has about 10 000 at home. Growing up without a TV, he and his mother spent evenings discussing news from the newspaper and reading. It's no wonder his interest for social sciences, politics and economic sciences was sparked at a young age.As well as delving into his thoughts on literature an
Geoffrey Hinton: Nobel Prize Conversations
"When we remember, what we're doing is just making up a story that sounds plausible to us. That's what memories are." Join your host Adam Smith as he speaks to physicist Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI. They discuss Hinton's childhood memories and how his family legacy of successful scientists put pressure on Hinton to follow in their footsteps. Throughout the conversation it is
First reactions | James Robinson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
“Get up, you need to get up! You’ve won the Nobel Prize.” That’s how James Robinson discovered he was a 2024 economic sciences laureate, as his wife, Maria Angélica Bautista, woke him up. In this brief call with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith he talks about the root causes of poverty and how to build the types of political structures that enhance prosperity: “Inclusive institutions are not created b
First reactions | Daron Acemoglu, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
“There’s nothing natural about 30-, 40-, 50- fold differences in income per capita in a globalised, connected world.” Daron Acemoglu, economic sciences laureate 2024, speaks about the root causes of persistent poverty among the poorest nations and how to build the types of inclusive institution that can support prosperity. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded shortly af
First reactions | Simon Johnson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
“True, genuine, inclusive democracy matters, very clearly.” Simon Johnson, economic sciences laureate 2024, learnt of the award from the congratulatory text messages piling-up on his phone. In this short conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded just moments after he had heard the news, he highlights the importance of participatory decision-making in making the most of human potenti
First reactions | Nihon Hidankyo, Nobel Peace Prize 2024 | Telephone interview
“The dream came true!” The prize came as a big surprise, says Masako Wada, a representative from the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, which works to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. In this interview shortly after learning about the Nobel Peace Prize 2024, she shares her deep concerns on the world’s backlash on nuclear disarmament, not least after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukrai
First reactions | Han Kang, Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 | Telephone interview
”I’m so surprised and honoured.” 2024 literature laureate Han Kang had just finished dinner with her son at her home in Seoul when she received the news. In this interview with the Nobel Prize, she reflects on being the first South Korean literature laureate and talks about how writers as a collective have influenced her. “All their efforts and strengths have been my inspiration.” Han Kang also ta
First reactions | David Baker, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
“I got the phone call and my wife promptly started screaming.” News of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry gave David Baker’s household a very early wake up call. Here, just after the prize announcement, Baker speaks to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith about the exciting potential of building brand new proteins, the inspirational effect his fellow laureates have had on his field and whether it is necess
First reactions | John Jumper, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
“It’s absolutely extraordinary.” John Jumper had just heard the news of his 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry when he spoke to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith. “I thought I had a 10 % chance,” he reveals. To save his nerves, his plan had been to sleep in until after the announcement, which didn’t quite work out. In the interview, he talks about being the youngest chemistry laureate in over 70 years, and
First reactions | Demis Hassabis, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
“The best scientists paired with these kinds of tools will be able to do incredible things.” Demis Hassabis, 2024 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, reflects on building the right research environment and the interplay between AI and individual scientists. This short conversation with Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith was recorded just after he had received the call from Stockholm. © Nobel Prize Outreach.F
First reactions | John Hopfield, Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 | Telephone interview
“You have to build up from the bottom.” In this interview shortly after the announcement, 2024 physics laureate John Hopfield talks about how he found out about the prize when he was going through his e-mails. ”It didn't sink it until I got to the fourth e-mail!” Hopfield reflects on how to tackle big questions, such as how the mind works, in this conversation. He and his wife Mary Walth
First reactions | Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 | Telephone interview
“How could I be sure it wasn’t a spoof call?” 2024 physics laureate Geoffrey Hinton received the phone call from Stockholm at around 2am in a hotel room in California, and multiple Swedish accents helped reassure him that his Nobel Prize in Physics was real. Greatly surprised, he talks to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith about the state of machine learning, the pressing need for safety research, and h
First reactions | Victor Ambros, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 | Telephone interview
“We see it as a celebration of the way of doing science,” says Victor Ambros of his Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In this call with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, Ambros speaks about the joy of basic research and the ever-expanding fascination of RNA. Recorded just after Ambros found out about the prize, we also discover how the news was broken to the new laureate by his son, who
First reactions | Gary Ruvkun, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 | Telephone interview
“I heard what sounded like an authentic call from the Nobel Committee!” New medicine laureate Gary Ruvkun might have received a prank call or two in the past, but today’s was genuine. He talked to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith minutes after hearing the news, about the pleasure of finding things out, the electrifying growth of the microRNA field over the years, and the benefits of taking time out. A
Jon Fosse: Nobel Prize Conversations
Is the creative process different in the fields of art, literature and music? In a podcast conversation, literature laureate Jon Fosse speaks about all three fields and how they are similar in many ways. American painter Mark Rothko is mentioned as a source of inspiration as well as art in general. We also get insights into Fosse's childhood where music was large part of his life. Today Jon Fosse
Pierre Agostini: Nobel Prize Conversations
Hear physics laureate Pierre Agostini describe how he found his love of science: ”It was only when I started doing research that I discovered the fun of physics." Together with podcast host Adam Smith, he talks about multiphoton ionisation, Planck time and contradicting Einstein. Agostini also tells us about how his life has changed after being awarded the 2023 physics prize and how it has ta
Moungi Bawendi: Nobel Prize Conversations
Is it possible to 'see' quantum mechanics in action? In a podcast conversation, chemistry laureate Moungi Bawendi speaks about the incredible gratification of visualising quantum mechanics and how his collaboration with co-laureate Louis Brus started. He also shares his love of music and speaks about how his lab's yearly ski trip helps his group work better together. Intuition and diversity in sci
Louis Brus: Nobel Prize Conversations
Some words of wisdom from chemistry laureate Louis Brus: "You recognise opportunity and then you have to take advantage of it. Seize the opportunity basically. It takes some struggle." In a conversation with podcast host Adam Smith, Louis Brus speaks about the process of discovery and his own scientific path. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anne L'Huillier: Nobel Prize Conversations
What are the benefits of creating a diverse laboratory? In this podcast episode with physicist Anne L’Huillier, we speak about the importance of diversity and how she herself speaks and thinks in three languages. From cultures and countries to gender, we discuss the advantages of bringing together people with a variety of backgrounds and experiences and how to promote this. Also up for discussion
Drew Weissman: Nobel Prize Conversations
How can we ensure that knowledge and science are spread globally? Medicine laureate Drew Weissman is an advocate for creating research centres around the world to give local researchers the means to have ownership and solve health issues by themselves. As Weissman puts it: ”A lot of people set up a clinic in a city somewhere, collect samples, take them home, and study them. To me, that compounds t
Claudia Goldin: Nobel Prize Conversations
There are many roads one can take in life. But to what extent will your life choices decide what kind of person you become? In this podcast conversation with economist and laureate Claudia Goldin, we discuss the choices that brought her to this moment in time. Our podcast host Adam Smith, who meets Goldin in the year after she received the prize in economic science, also talks with her about the d
Ferenc Krausz: Nobel Prize Conversations
Meet 2023 physics laureate Ferenc Krausz in conversation with podcast host Adam Smith, as they discuss a scientific journey which has spanned three countries – and to which Krausz attributes his Nobel Prize.”These particles were discovered more than a hundred years before. It took an utter century to develop the tools to actually capture them in motion. It was an indescribable moment.”, he says as
Katalin Karikó: Nobel Prize Conversations
"I also thank the people who tried to make my life miserable – because they made me work harder and become more resilient." – Working harder and becoming more resilient seems to be the story of Nobel Prize laureate Katalin Karikós’s life. Despite facing a number of enormous challenges, she has never lost hope or focus. Instead she is convinced that it is better to focus on yourself and not to desp
Mario Molina: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
"I had decided as a child if it was possible to become a scientist and to do scientific research for a living that's what I wanted to do." – In this episode, we meet physical chemist Mario Molina who spent his life working on climate research. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1995 for his investigations into how CFC gases damage the ozone layer. Molina dedicated his life to reducing their use and
Jody Williams: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
”I have been fortunate to be able to live my life doing what I believe in. Not everybody has that fortune" In this podcast episode, peace activist Jody Williams tells us how she has tried to use the power that was given to her after being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. She is a strong advocate for working across organisations to solve global challenges such as banning nuclear weapons and eliminating
John Mather: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
”I don't think it's my job or anybody's job to try to convince other people of the righteousness of my opinion. I think it's each person's job to figure out how they look at the world.” – This conversation with astrophysicist John Mather was recorded in 2014, where he speaks to Adam Smith about space and if we will be going to Mars in the future. Mather also shares good advice to young resear
Robert Shiller: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
”Pursuing expertise doggedly can't be the goal for everyone because being specialised means losing some breadth of understanding. We need both kinds of people." – In this podcast episode recorded in 2014 economist Robert Shiller speaks about technology and the role he thinks it will have in the future. He also shares his best advice for young economists and what he thinks about teaching online cou
Barry Marshall: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
”I wasn't interested in learning stuff. I was just interested in understanding, because I could see what a fabulous shortcut it always was.” – Meet 2005 medicine laureate Barry Marshall in a dynamic talk with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith. Marshall tells us about his blog (something very few laureates had in 2005), his status as a yo-yo expert and his research that paved the way to a Nobel Prize. S
Alice Munro: Encore presentation of Nobel Prize Talks
”It's the insight, the work, the way you give yourself to the story that matters.” – We present a heartwarming chat with Canadian ’master of short stories’ and literature laureate Alice Munro. This conversation between the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith and Munro took place soon after she was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. In the episode, she reflects on how she creates short stories,
First reactions | Claudia Goldin, prize in economic sciences 2023 | Telephone interview
“I have always thought of myself as a detective,” 2023 economic sciences laureate Claudia Goldin tells the Nobel Prize's Adam Smith when speaking about her research: “The detective always believes there is a way of finding the answer!” Recorded shortly after the public announcement of her prize, this conversation begins with Goldin praising Professor Randi Hjalmarsson of the University of Got
First reactions | Jon Fosse, Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 | Telephone interview
After the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature was announced, new laureate Jon Fosse was inundated with messages congratulating him on the award. In this call with the Nobel Prize’s Manisha Lalloo he speaks about one particular reader who told him that his work was “the reason she was still alive.” He also shares what writing means to him and his advice for aspiring writers. © Nobel Prize Outreach.First
First reactions | Louis E. Brus, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 | Telephone interview
“This is a collaborative effort,” says Louis E. Brus when asked for his first reaction to the award of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, “partly physics, partly chemistry, partly material science.” In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith he pays tribute to the many contributors to the field and discusses his own motivations for exploring the nature of nanoparticles in the productiv
First reactions | Alexei Ekimov, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 | Telephone interview
“It’s the middle of the night here!” Alexei Ekimov’s first reaction to hearing the news of his 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was reasonable enough: “I woke up,” he says! In this call with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, made not long afterwards, Ekimov goes on to discuss the experiments he performed over forty years ago producing quantum effects in coloured glass. He explains how his experiments con
First reactions | Moungi Bawendi, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 | Telephone interview
“I’m supposed to teach at 9 this morning,” say Moungi Bawendi in this call recorded in the early morning, just after the news of his 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry had reached him, “and I’m not sure what’s going to happen!” Bawendi tells the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith how he received the call, speaks about his co-laureate and mentor Louis E. Brus, and discusses what he tries to teach his students. ©
First reactions | Pierre Agostini, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 | Telephone interview
“My daughter called me asking, ‘Is that true, I see it on Google?’” That was how Pierre Agostini found out he had been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, kindly facilitated by Dawn Larzelere of The Ohio State University (whose voice is heard at the start and end), Agostini talks of his surprise at receiving the prize now, his initial th
First reactions | Anne L’Huillier, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 | Telephone interview
In what was surely understatement, 2023 physics laureate Anne L’Huillier described herself as “A little bit busy” when the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith reached her a couple of hours after she had received the news. In this brief call she describes how special it feels to receive the prize and how her research into the overtones of light, which she revealed in the 1980s, continues to excite her: “Even
First reactions | Ferenc Krausz, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 | Telephone interview
Ferenc Krausz was preparing to give lab tours at his Institute when a call from Stockholm reached him at home. “I was not sure whether I was dreaming, or whether it’s reality,” he tells the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith in this call recorded just after the physics prize was announced. “It’s always exciting to see something that no-one could see before,” he says, recalling the thrilling morning in Vienn
First reactions | Drew Weissman, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 | Telephone interview
“We weren’t sure it was true!” Drew Weissman’s research partner and co-laureate Katalin Karikó called him early this morning with some incredible news – they had both been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The two have a 20 year history of working together. “We both have sleep disturbances,” he says in this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, “so usually around 3
First reactions | Katalin Karikó, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 | Telephone interview
The call from Stockholm woke Katalin Karikó at her home outside Philadelphia. Initially in disbelief, in this interview with Adam Smith, recorded soon after she had learnt of the award of the Nobel Prize for discoveries that accelerated the introduction of vaccines for Covid-19, she recalls her journey from Hungary and some of the setbacks on the path to the mRNA vaccines. “10 years ago I was here
Behind the scenes: Adam Smith presents more October interviews with the new Nobel Prize laureates
Each year in October, Adam Smith takes on the challenge of reaching the brand new Nobel Prize laureates for a telephone interview. In this new bonus episode of Nobel Prize Conversations, Adam takes us behind the scenes for even more of these calls and his favourite moments. The host for this episode is Karin Svensson, the producer of Nobel Prize Conversations.From October 2-9, don't miss our mini-
Barry Sharpless: Nobel Prize Conversations
“If you're interested in something, you'd be amazed what interest can do.” – So says Barry Sharpless, the only living individual that has been awarded two Nobel Prizes. In this rare and uniquely wide-ranging conversation, Sharpless opens up about curiosity, creativity and how he comes up with all these new ideas. The host of this podcast is Adam Smith, Chief Scientific Officer at Nobel Prize Outre
Anton Zeilinger: Nobel Prize Conversations
”You have to reinvent yourself every couple of years. It's absolutely important. It's necessary for me to make my life interesting. Life is too short.” – Meet physics laureate Anton Zeilinger. With an endlessly curious mind, he loves exploring new paths in the scientific field of quantum physics. He also speaks about his love of sailing and why the number 42 holds a special place in his heart. The
