2016 Nobel Prize in Physics winner comes to Gia Lai to inspire science

DNVN - In late June and early July, Professor Duncan Haldane (Nobel Prize in Physics 2016) came to Gia Lai within the framework of the program "International Advanced School on Quantum Topological Materials", jointly organized by the Vietnam Science Association, ICISE and the Asia-Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP).

This is an annual academic event that brings together nearly 40 international scholars and researchers, including famous names such as Professor Dam Thanh Son, Professor Yoshimasa Hidaka...

Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan received and worked with Professor Haldane on the first day of Gia Lai province's official operation.

Here, Professor Haldane not only teaches but also inspires science through discussions on quantum topology, general symmetry and artificial intelligence in modern physics. During the exchange with students from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and France - a sideline activity of the conference "From Mekong to Ocean", he told scientific stories in a simple and familiar way.

“Science is not about being right. Science is about understanding. And sometimes, you have to be wrong many times to get to the right thing.” That saying seems to “touch” many students who are passionate about science. Because he is not only talking about physics, he is talking about the way of life, the way people should enter the world , with curiosity, passion for discovery, courage and intelligence.

Not only staying with ICISE, on July 1, the first day of Gia Lai province's official operation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan welcomed Professor Haldane in an important meeting. This was the first event he held in his new position and chose the prestigious Nobel guest as the opening speaker. This was not a random choice.

Professor Duncan Haldane interacted with teachers and students of Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted.

At the meeting, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan stated that Gia Lai will put science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as four pillars of long-term development. He hopes that ICISE will be a center for attracting domestic and international intelligence, and at the same time, he asked Professor Haldane to accompany ICISE for a long time, participate in professional consulting and propose initiatives to develop science and technology in the new period.

Professor Haldane could not hide his emotion and surprise: “I have traveled to many places in the world, but it is very rare to see a local government whose leader begins his term by receiving a scientist. I believe that this land is nurturing very serious expectations for the future, including the role of science, technology and innovation.”

Returning to ICISE after the meeting, he took the time to revisit the “Nobel Garden” – where he planted a commemorative tree in 2022 and walked through the “Nobel Path” with stone slabs engraved with the names of leading scientists who have visited. He also spent time visiting Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and instilling a passion for scientific research in the students here.

Before leaving Vietnam, Professor Duncan Haldane left these lines in the golden book of ICISE: “The course on Quantum Matter at ICISE was a great success, with many interesting lectures and discussions in a beautiful space. Hopefully there will be more events like this in the future in the new Gia Lai province. A promising start...!”.

Minh Thao

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/2016-nobel-physics-winner-den-gia-lai-truyen-cam-hung-khoa-hoc/20250713084704064