Ivar Giaever
Ivar Giaever: A Pioneering Physicist with Unwavering Optimism
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Ivar Giaever was born on April 5, 1929, in Bergen, Norway. He is commonly known as Ivar Giaever.
#### Birth and Death Dates
April 5, 1929 - October 21, 2022
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Ivar Giaever held American nationality and was a renowned physicist, particularly recognized for his contributions to superconductivity and nanotechnology. He spent most of his career at the General Electric Research Laboratory (now GE Global Research) in Schenectady, New York.
#### Early Life and Background
Giaever grew up in Norway during World War II, an experience that significantly influenced his perspective on life. As a young boy, he was fascinated by science and technology, often building simple electronics projects with his father's help. After the war, Giaever moved to the United States to pursue higher education.
He studied at the University of Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Physics in 1952. This marked the beginning of an illustrious academic journey that would lead him to earn a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1953. Giaever later went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago before joining General Electric Research Laboratory.
#### Major Accomplishments
Ivar Giaever's contributions to superconductivity are among his most notable achievements. In 1960, he made history by demonstrating the existence of the energy gap in superconducting materials using tunneling experiments. This groundbreaking discovery laid the foundation for further research into high-temperature superconductors and garnered him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973.
Giaever continued to push the boundaries of scientific understanding with his work on nanotechnology, emphasizing the potential of these tiny structures to revolutionize various fields. He also made significant contributions to understanding the electrical properties of materials.
#### Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his groundbreaking research, Giaever was known for his commitment to science education and public outreach. Throughout his career, he delivered numerous lectures at academic institutions and conferences, always making an effort to explain complex scientific concepts in simple terms.
Giaever's dedication to sharing the beauty of science with a broader audience is evident through his various interviews, documentaries, and publications. His unassuming approach to communicating science has made him a beloved figure within the scientific community and beyond.
#### Impact and Legacy
Ivar Giaever's impact on our understanding of superconductivity and nanotechnology is undeniable. The numerous scientists he inspired with his work continue to build upon the foundation he laid, advancing our knowledge in these areas at an unprecedented rate.
Moreover, Giaever's ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible manner has helped bridge the gap between scientific research and public awareness. This legacy extends beyond his own work to encourage future generations of scientists to communicate their findings effectively with a broader audience.
#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ivar Giaever is widely remembered for his groundbreaking contributions to physics, but also for his unshakeable optimism and commitment to making science accessible to everyone. His unwavering enthusiasm for scientific discovery has made him an inspiration to many within the scientific community and beyond.
Giaever's quotes often reflect his strong conviction that science should be used to benefit society as a whole, not just a select few. He believes in the power of human ingenuity and encourages people to explore the world around them with curiosity and wonder.
As we continue to navigate an increasingly complex world, Ivar Giaever's legacy serves as a beacon of hope. His dedication to science education, his passion for scientific discovery, and his commitment to making science accessible to all have left an indelible mark on our understanding of the world.
Quotes by Ivar Giaever
Is climate change pseudoscience? If I’m going to answer the question, the answer is: absolutely.
Is climate change pseudoscience? If I'm going to answer the question, the answer is: absolutely.
To me the greatest moment in an experiment is always just before I learn whether the particular idea is a good or a bad one. Thus even a failure is exciting, and most of my ideas have of course been wrong.
If you want to do good research, it's important not to know too much. This almost sounds contradictory but really if you know too much and you get an idea, you will sort of talk yourself out of trying it because you figure it won't work. But if you know just the right amount and you get enthusiastic about your project, you go ahead, you do it and if you're lucky things'll work out.
I'm a skeptic. ...Global Warming it's become a new religion. You're not supposed to be against Global Warming. You have basically no choice. And I tell you how many scientists support that. But the number of scientists is not important. The only thing that's important is if the scientists are correct; that's the important part.
While classical mechanics correctly predicts the behavior of large objects such as tennis balls, to predict the behavior of small objects such as electrons, we must use quantum mechanics.
When I was 28 years old, I found myself in Schenectady, New York, where I discovered that it was possible for some people to make a good living as physicists.
If you're a physicist, for heaven's sake, and here is the experiment, and you have a theory, and the theory doesn't agree with the experiment, then you have to cut out the theory. You were wrong with the theory.