Bring researchers back home: Nobel laureate

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 3

Nobel laureate Prof Dr Klaus von Klitzing has said that the government should facilitate scientists and promote infrastructure of laboratories to develop a nation. Nepal should bring back all its researchers working abroad for the noble deed.

German scientist Klitzing, who won the Nobel Prize at the age of 42 in 1985 on Integer Quantum Hall Effect (Unit of electrical resistance), is in Nepal to take part in a four-day International Conference on the Frontiers of Physics organised by the Nepal Physical Society on the occasion of its silver jubilee. Klaus was born in a noble family in Schroda, which presently falls in Poland. Klaus, who visited Nepal thrice namely in 1980, 1999 and 2009, arrived here on Monday.

“Definitely, a person is very important but the nation is equally responsible to provide fund for making researches fruitful to the potentiality of a researcher. In fact, freedom of science is really important for its culmination,” Klaus said. “Yes. Government must provide fund to promote the science sector to reach its ultimate height, investing in the development of well-equipped laboratories so that any researcher could carry out researches in the government labs for the sake of national development. Science [Physics] is the basic fundamentals of development. German government provided me grant for carrying out researches in the High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is German-French lab, Grenoble in France, where I discovered my theory of new measurement units.”

Nothing happens itself, he said. “We must work hard sincerely and dedicatedly. It is an interesting case that I did not expect the result of my research. As I was absorbed in my research entirely in 5.2.1980 at 2 AM in a lab of Grenoble in France, it was surprising consequence for me. I was successful in my discovery of integer quantum hall effect. I was really amazed when I was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in 1985 beyond my imagination,” he told this daily.

He sees the possibility of science and technology development in Nepal is bright. “You see there is a big number of science students in Nepal and they are involved in researches in different countries. However, the country has failed to exploit them by creating appropriate environment for the development of science here. There are good Nepalese researchers abroad. All of them should be brought back if the country really wants to develop it.” “It is the general principle that we have to focus on only one area to promote the particular area of science in full-fledged. If we are diverted into many streams at a time, there will be no significant achievement.”

When asked about Nepal winning Nobel Prize on science any day, he said, “Why not? Everyone can win it. If African countries can win, Nepal also definitely deserves it though it may take longer time to develop infrastructure in science field here.”

Klaus took a class on his discovery in the Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, and Kathmandu University, Kavre today. He is leaving for Germany tomorrow.

This interview was published in The Himalayan Times, dated June 4, 2009.