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Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organisation
I’m starting a new chapter in Göttingen! I’ve moved here from Leiden, and it feels amazing to see the connection between these two cities through science.
It makes me think of the iconic 1927 Solvay Conference photo, taken in Brussels, just 20 km from where I grew up. Many of the scientists in that legendary picture are linked to Leiden, Göttingen, my new institute (the Max Planck Institute), or even my Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship. Out of 11 key scientists in that network, 9 share 10 Nobel Prizes in Physics (and some in Chemistry).
Below, I’ve included a little guide with some of their main formulas and discoveries—and a tiny intro to each of them. Feeling very inspired to follow in the footsteps of such incredible minds!
Scientists related to my MSCA PF grant:
Marie Curie: Pioneered research on radioactivity, discovered polonium and radium, and remains a symbol of scientific courage and curiosity, thereby winning not only one but two Nobel prizes (and in different fields!).
Scientists related to my new institute (MPI-DS):
Max Planck: Father of quantum theory, introduced the concept of energy quanta (E=hf).
Scientist related to both Leiden and Göttingen:
Paul Ehrenfest: Made major contributions to statistical mechanics and quantum theory. Known for the Ehrenfest theorem, which connects classical and quantum mechanics.
Scientists related to Leiden (who collaborated majorly with Göttingen):
Hendrik Kramers: Known for Kramers’ theory of radiation and contributions to quantum mechanics, including dispersion theory and the Kramers–Kronig relations.
Hendrik Lorentz: Developed the Lorentz force law and the theory of electrons. Key figure in classical electromagnetism and relativity.
Albert Einstein: Revolutionized physics with relativity and the photoelectric effect. His formulas describe the relationship between energy, mass, and the speed of light (E=mc²).
Niels Bohr: Pioneered the Bohr model of the atom, introducing quantized electron orbits. Fundamental for modern quantum mechanics.
Scientists related to Göttingen (who collaborated majorly with Leiden):
Peter Debye: Known for the Debye model in solid-state physics and contributions to molecular dipoles and scattering theory.
Wolfgang Pauli: Introduced the Pauli exclusion principle, a cornerstone of quantum mechanics explaining why electrons occupy distinct energy states.
Werner Heisenberg: Developed matrix mechanics and the uncertainty principle, key to quantum theory.
Max Born: Made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics, particularly the probabilistic interpretation of the wave function.
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