Andre Geim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Andre Geim
FRS HonFInstP
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Geim in 2018
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| Born |
21 October 1958 |
| Nationality | Dutch and British |
| Alma mater | Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology |
| Known for |
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| Spouse(s) | Irina Grigorieva |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Condensed matter physics |
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| Thesis | Investigation of mechanisms of transport relaxation in metals by a helicon resonance method (1987) |
| Doctoral advisor | Victor Petrashov |
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Sir Andre Konstantin Geim (Андре́й Константи́нович Гейм; born 21 October 1958) is a famous physicist. He was born in Russia and now holds both Dutch and British citizenship. He works in England at the University of Manchester.
In 2010, Geim won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared this award with Konstantin Novoselov. They won for their amazing work on a material called graphene. He is also a special professor at the National Graphene Institute.
Before his Nobel Prize, Geim won a funny award called the Ig Nobel Prize in 2000. He won it for making a frog float in the air using magnets! He is the first and only person to win both a Nobel Prize and an Ig Nobel Prize. This achievement even earned him a Guinness World Record.
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Early Life and School
Andre Geim was born in Sochi, Russia, on October 21, 1958. His parents, Konstantin Alekseyevich Geim and Nina Nikolayevna Bayer, were both engineers. His family moved to Nalchik in 1965, where he went to high school.
After high school, he wanted to study physics. He applied to the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and was accepted. He earned his first degree, similar to a Master of Science (MSc), from MIPT in 1982. Later, in 1987, he received his PhD in metal physics. He got this degree from the Institute of Solid State Physics in Russia.
Andre Geim's Career Journey
After finishing his PhD, Andre Geim worked as a scientist in Russia. From 1990, he also worked as a researcher at universities in other countries. These included Nottingham, Bath, and Copenhagen. He felt that working abroad allowed him to focus more on his research.
In 1994, he got his first permanent job at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Here, he studied how tiny materials behave. He later became a Dutch citizen. One of his students there was Konstantin Novoselov, who became his main research partner.
In 2001, Geim became a physics professor at the University of Manchester in England. His wife, Irina Grigorieva, who is also a scientist, moved to Manchester with him. Konstantin Novoselov also joined them in Manchester. Geim has received many honorary professorships from universities around the world.
Amazing Discoveries and Research
One of Geim's biggest achievements was discovering a simple way to get single layers of graphite. This super-thin material is called graphene. He and his team published their findings in 2004.
Graphene is made of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern. It's the thinnest material ever, only one atom thick! It's also incredibly strong and hard. Scientists believe graphene could be used for many things. For example, it might help create flexible touchscreens for phones and tablets.
Geim also worked on a special sticky material called gecko tape. This tape works like the sticky feet of a gecko. Scientists hope this invention could one day help people climb walls, just like Spider-Man!
In 1997, Geim did an interesting experiment with magnetism and water. He found a way to make water float in the air using magnets. This led to his famous experiment where he made a frog float! For this fun experiment, he and Michael Berry won the 2000 Ig Nobel Prize. Geim said they were proud to accept the award and show they had a good sense of humor.
Geim enjoys studying many different things. He believes it's important to try new subjects. He says, "When one dares to try, rewards are not guaranteed but at least it is an adventure."
Awards and Honors
Andre Geim has received many awards for his scientific work.
- In 2007, he won the Nevill Mott Medal and Prize for discovering two-dimensional crystals like graphene.
- He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2007. This is a very important honor for scientists in the UK.
- In 2008, he shared the EPS Europhysics Prize with Konstantin Novoselov for their graphene discovery.
- He also received the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science in 2010.
- The Royal Society gave him the Hughes Medal in 2010 for his work on graphene.
- He has received honorary doctorates from several universities.
- In 2010, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in the Netherlands.
- He was made a Knight Bachelor in 2012, which means he can be called "Sir."
- He won the Copley Medal in 2013 and the Carbon Medal in 2016.
The Ig Nobel Prize in Physics
Andre Geim shared the 2000 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics. He won it with Sir Michael Berry for their experiment with the floating frog. They showed how magnets could make a small frog float in the air. This experiment was reported in a science journal in 1997.
This unique experiment even inspired a lunar gravity research facility in China!
The Nobel Prize in Physics
On October 5, 2010, Andre Geim won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared it with Konstantin Novoselov. They won for their amazing work on graphene, a two-dimensional material. When he heard the news, he said he didn't expect it that year.
Geim hopes that graphene and other similar materials will change our daily lives. He thinks they could be as important as plastics became for humanity. He also said that winning both the Ig Nobel and Nobel prizes shows that he can laugh at himself. He was even added to the Guinness World Records for being the first person to win both awards.
Andre Geim's Life and Thoughts
Geim has a diverse family background. He mentioned that most of his family are of German origin. His father and grandfather faced difficulties in Siberia. He also shared that he faced challenges in Russia because his name sounded Jewish.
Geim sees himself as a European. He believes that in the world of science, it's not necessary to have too many labels. He has also written articles for The Financial Times sharing his thoughts on different topics. In 2014, he shared more about his personal life and music tastes on a BBC radio show called Desert Island Discs.
See also
In Spanish: Andre Geim para niños
