Chapter 344: Nobels do n’t know what to do

A crystal chemistry class at the University of Munich, Germany, across the Atlantic.
Rarely, Professor Gerhard Eitel gave up teaching tasks to his own teaching assistants, but instead stood in the classroom to explain the secrets of crystal chemistry to these young students.
To a Nobel prize-winning scholar, this kind of teaching and education seems to be a bit of a curiosity. In fact, many well-known scholars are enjoying it and are willing to share their knowledge with young students.
The same is true of Professor Eitel, especially when he is troubled by a complex issue.
Engaging in basic education can always inspire him at critical moments.
At the last questioning session in the class, a student raised his hand and asked.
"Professor, have you read the recent paper on the theoretical model of electrochemical structure interface published in" jacs "?"
Professor Eite paused for about two seconds, pushed the reading glasses, and nodded.
"Have you seen that, what's wrong?"
The student looked at him with anticipation and asked, "Is it right?"
Eitel thought for a moment, and said in a chatty tone: "My child, out of rigorous science, I cannot answer this question for the time being."
However, the student did not seem satisfied with this ambiguous answer. He changed the question, broke the casserole, and continued to say, "What if it is correct?"
"Science has no if, but it has to be asked ..."
Professor Eite frowned, and seemed reluctant to comment on the topic, but in the end he stretched his eyebrows and said lightly, "If it's right, it means new chemistry."
There was an incredible thunder in the classroom.
New chemistry!
What a shocking statement!
If someone else said this, the people present might not take it seriously. But this is what Professor Eitel, the Nobel Prize winner in 2007, and an expert in the field of solid surface chemistry!
In addition to his professorship at the University of Munich, he is also the director of the Fritz Haber Institute (Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry) at the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
Who else has a say in the field of electrochemistry?
Looking at the students' reactions, Professor Eite smiled.
"I am glad to see that you are optimistic about the birth of a new theory. You are right, and only by constantly accepting new things can we make progress."
"But while curious about new things, I hope you can always remember to look at every conclusion we draw with rigor."
"This is responsible for science."
Having said that, Etter tapped on the desk with his lesson plan.
"I will send the TA to your mailbox for homework, now, after class."
After leaving the classroom, Professor Eite did not return directly to his office, but took his own car and rushed to the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Institute in Berlin.
A recent paper published in "jacs" has caused widespread controversy in the chemical community. As one of the world's leading academic research institutions, Max Plan is obliged to express his position on this paper.
Of course, such a statement is not just a stand-up to express an opinion.
Considering the importance of this theoretical model for the study of the structure of the electrochemical interface, the Max Planck Society has set up an interdisciplinary research group to gather top scholars in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, and condensed matter physics to discuss this theoretical model.
As one of the members of the research group and the director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Ettle's opinions also represent the opinions of the Max Planck Institute of Physical Chemistry.
It is for this reason that he is especially cautious when dealing with this subject.
Entering the conference room, he saw Faltings sitting there, holding a paper printed into a paper document in his hand, and examining it meticulously.
Strictly speaking, this big man is an expert in the field of algebraic geometry and arithmetic geometry. Functional analysis is not his research direction. However, as a bull in the field of number theory, cross-direction research is not rare for him.
At the same time, as one of the most influential mathematicians after Grothendieck, and the director of the Max Planck Institute of Mathematics,
Otherwise, he would not be the director of the Max Planck Institute of Mathematics.
However, the arrogant old Germanic man had this temperament when he was in Princeton. After returning to his hometown in Germany, instead of making any changes, he got worse.
As if intentionally told Ettel, Faltins said slowly.
"Only second-rate mathematicians would be interested in how to apply mathematics to solving real-world problems. In my opinion, such things have no value in reading."
Indifference to application is a consistent position of the Burbaki school, and "glorious isolation" of other disciplines is often regarded as a noble. Although it is difficult to feel the scorn chain in this discipline among young mathematicians, this stubborn concept still exists among older mathematicians.
The outstanding representative among them is probably the late number theory master Hardy. In addition to his research, this bull has shown his favorite thing to others. He has studied the purest and purest mathematics. Beyond the "use" and take pride in it.
However, it is very "unfortunate" that Hardy never dreamed that his research results were eventually taken away by "sly" application scientists and widely used in computer and cryptography ...
Of course, when Faltins said this, it did not mean that Lu Zhou was a second-rate mathematician, but only expressed his regret for his profligacy.
Just last year at the Crawford Awards ceremony, he said that only four-digit scientists in the world today are expected to surpass him, and in his opinion, Lu Zhou is the most promising.
But now, he hesitated, or would he change these four back to three.
Sitting down opposite Faltings, Eite raised an eyebrow: "I don't agree with you."
"I don't expect you to agree. Just as not everyone can appreciate ancient Greek sculpture, you can't expect a layman to understand the beauty of pure mathematics." Faltings said lightly.
Ettle's eyebrows twitched fiercely.
Seeing that the two were quarreling again, Professor Klaus von Klitzing gave a cough, and reluctantly struck round the road beside him.
"That's enough, Mr. Faltins. We want you to provide more constructive advice, not to listen to your ridicule at us."
Prof. Klaus von Klitzing is a member of the Max Planck Institute for Condensed Matter Physics. Although he is not the director, he is the discoverer of the quantum Hall effect and a Nobel Prize winner.
"I didn't taunt you," sharp eyes glanced at the paper, and Faltins turned a page, correcting stubbornly and stubbornly, "I'm just explaining the facts."
Eitel and Klitzing exchanged sights and decided not to talk to the stubborn old man until he had finished the last part of the dissertation.
Fortunately, Faltings did not intend to continue speaking, and carefully read the thesis in hand.
After a long time, he threw the paper on the table and gave a reluctantly appraised evaluation.
"From a mathematical point of view, his process is not a big deal."
Etter and Klee Ching were relieved.
If Professor Faltings thinks it's okay, then basically it should be okay in the sense of mathematics.
Klitzing looked at Eitel and asked, "What do you think about this theory?"
After Etel thought for a moment, he said, "In my opinion, the problem is not very big. But his theory is too obscure, and even if we give an agreeable evaluation, it will not let the chemical community accept his point of view . "
Klitzing's heart moved slightly: "What do you mean?"
Eite nodded: "Nothing is more appropriate than a report. The more difficult the theory, the more direct communication is needed."
Forefinger lightly tapped on the conference table, and Klitzing asked, "What do you think is more appropriate?"
"We can send an invitation letter to Princeton ~ EbookFREE.me ~ to invite Professor Lu to visit and exchange with Max Planck, and provide him with a platform for the entire theoretical chemistry community to explain his views."
I have to say, this is a good idea.
Klitzing nodded in agreement.
"I agree with you, but the question is, which institute issued the invitation?"
This is a critical issue.
The Max Planck Institute is not a top-down, centralized research organization. The institutes are basically independent of each other.
However, this is also an issue that need not be considered at all.
The two spoke almost in unison.
"Of course it is our Institute of Physical Chemistry."
"Of course it is our Institute of Mathematics."
Because the voices were so consistent that after speaking, both Faltins and Eite stumbled in unison.
With a slight frown, Faltings said in an accented tone: "He is a mathematician."
Eite looked at him with incredible eyes, arguing rationally: "However, we are talking about chemistry."
Seeing that the two were unable to dispute, Klitzing gave a cough and offered a compromise opinion.
"If you can't figure out what to do, just at our Institute of Condensed Matter Physics ..."
"impossible."
"Don't even think about it!"
Faced with the joint snoring of the two big brothers, Klitzing coughed awkwardly: "I just said it casually ... in this case, let's use traditional and ancient methods to decide."
The tradition of physicists.
Of course it is a bet.
"Eliminate it from the front, continue from the other," Professor Klezin paused after drawing a coin from his pocket, and continued with a little excitement. "Of course, for the sake of fairness, I will participate.
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(Thank you to the book leader Hua Xuejian for her reward ~~~)