Life: What works and what doesn't, through the eyes of a Nobel Laureate

Dearest readers, we apologize sincerely for our absence these past months. We know how much you miss our bumbling insights into the wild ways of the universe. What follows is perhaps not the typical fare you have come to expect from our humble blog, but we trust that you will enjoy it all the same!






**The responses below are not direct quotes. They are paraphrased summaries of Sir Harry's answers to questions.**



Today, we in Postgraduate Peer Mentoring Group had the fantastic opportunity to talk with Sir Harold Kroto through the wonders of technology. Harry (as he prefers to be called) is, in his own words, "an atheist (or free-thinker), a humanist and a humorist". He is also an enthusiastic artist. As a student at the University of Sheffield, he met (and married) his wife, Margaret. They later had two sons, Stephen and David, who are in film production and cartoons, respectively. Below are the questions we put to Sir Harry and the responses he gave. If you'd like to learn more about Sir Harry, you can read his bio on the Nobel Prize website, or visit his own personal website, which has a number of cool graphics and videos! Additionally, if you are as inspired by Sir Harry's humble wisdom and visions for a better world as we were, you can donate to Amnesty International in his honor here: www.amnesty.org.


How does your experience and interest in art influence how you approach science (and vice versa)?
They [science and art] are identical. The biggest difference between them is this: in art, you’re in control. In science, the universe is in control.


How important has your pursuit of hobbies outside of science been to the advancement and success of your scientific career?

Many ways; for example, I believe my interest in graphics was very important in recognizing the structure of C60 when we obtained it.


What hobbies did you have besides science as a student?

I did a lot of things. I played tennis, I was the art editor for the student magazine, I met my wife, I learned to play guitar. In my last year, I didn’t do these things very much because I was focused on finishing. But I did a lot outside of science.


If you had do-over for your career and went back to when you were beginning your university study, what would you study if chemistry was not an option?

I would not be a scientist. I was interested in architecture and graphic art, but I didn’t think I could make a career in graphics. I didn’t realize then how many options I had.


What is the biggest challenge that you have had to face in your career? How did you overcome this obstacle?

I never went for challenges. I did things that were interesting, but I didn’t try to go for big challenges. My biggest challenge now is my recent ALS diagnosis. Because of that, I’ve had to give up science, but I deal with it by doing things like this with you guys, trying to help you. My advice is don’t go for competition. Do what you’re interested in personally.


Did you find it challenging to achieve good work/life balance in your academic career? How did you make time for family and hobbies in a busy schedule?

I didn’t make enough time for my family. I think it would have been easier if my children weren’t different from me, if they had been interested in science. One is in film production, one is a cartoonist. You need help to manage. I was very lucky to have my wife Margaret to help me.


What are some strategies that you used to assist you in working effectively and to manage time?

I have a problem with time management; I get very focused on something and then it’s three in the morning and I haven’t done anything else. But I will say my only strategy is never to do anything second rate. If you’re willing to do it second rate, do something else that you will do the best you can.


What is your opinion about science education as it is currently structured today. Do you think that our current methods are sustainable and beneficial, or do we need to make changes to better prepare future generations of scientists?

There are big problems in the current system. I don’t know how to fix them. We need to give our students hands-on familiarity with chemistry, physics, etc. They need to understand how dangerous these tools can be; familiarity breeds respect. We need to make sure they get these experiences in their early years of college. They’re not getting them in high school.


What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

The NMR structure of C60. All of the atoms were equivalent! That meant it either had to be a truncated icosahedron or a ring. It was beautiful.


How has teamwork influenced your discoveries/work/professional life?

Very profoundly. It’s a two body collision. When I was studying phosphaalkenes, I had a colleague that was very good at making these compounds. Why spend all that time doing it myself when I could have him do it and put him on the paper? Bring together existing talent to get things done.


Have you ever felt like quitting science? How did you stay motivated?

I thought that maybe I wouldn’t be clever enough. I figured I’d give it 5 years, and if I wasn’t good I would get out and do graphic design, which I already had some experience in. I never did anything to stay motivated; little things came up to keep my attention and keep me interested.

In what ways do you leverage your status as a Nobel Laureate to speak out about changes that you feel need to be made in society today? How can someone without a Nobel help society? Is it easier now to make a positive difference in the world than in years past?

Well, what I’m doing right now! Talking to youngsters like you. I was a sixties kid; I was born the month after WWII started. Once I was 6 or 7, every year after that got better. Then we had the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, mini skirts. We were optimistic about flower power and people learning to be nice to each other. It looked easier then, but it wasn’t really.
I think what you youngsters have now is access to instantaneous information. I think our biggest problem is that governments and people are not in charge, big business is. If you get into an industry position, steer them towards humanitarian things. They’ll make more money selling things that people want than they will selling governments things people don’t want [weapons, fighter jets, etc.].


In conclusion:
Don’t take anything a Nobel Prize winner says seriously! Don’t just accept what I say. Think about it for yourself.




Originally posted on the Wisconsin Involvement Network.