Nobel Prize winner inspired KTH students with a physics lecture.
Students in electrical engineering had a unique experience when the 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Anne L'Huillier, visited KTH and gave a guest lecture on attosecond physics.
The lecture in auditorium F1 brought together students from the program's first to third year in the program-cohesive course Global Impact of Electrical Engineering and became an appreciated and inspiring event. Course coordinators Tobias Oechtering and Anita Kullen expressed their delight in offering students such a unique opportunity:
"I hope this was an exciting one-time event for our students – to experience a Nobel Laureate as part of their education. Anne L'Huillier gave a very well-prepared lecture where she managed to explain complex concepts", says Oechtering, who single-handedly managed to arrange the lecture.
During the lecture, L'Huillier introduced students to the fundamentals of attosecond physics and emphasized the importance of experimental physics in research. She also shared insights into her research career and the choices that led her to the Nobel Prize. One of the strongest impressions she left was her passion and drive:
"She demonstrated that she is driven by her curiosity in physics and the strong will to pursue her experiments. She pointed out that luck played a role in her career – that she conducted her experiments at the right time and place. But it is evident that her success is also built on her excellence as a researcher", he continues.
The lecture was both educational and inspiring for students. The opportunity to listen to a distinguished researcher sharing their experiences and insights can significantly impact young academics' future career choices.
Her message about strong motivation and passion as a driving force can inspire students. At the same time, she was a fantastic lecturer and a very warm person – an actual role model for both young and old in academia", concludes Oechtering.
Kullen highlights the fact that her fellow course coordinator managed to organise the lecture all by himself. The lecture would not have been possible without the willingness of their collegues to move their own lectures such that the students could participate. This is something that both organisers are greatful for.
The visit was a memorable experience and an essential reminder of how research and scientific discoveries can shape our world.