Аndrei Geim - From graphene, temporarily not making money (P2)

Continue unfinished conversation with Andrei Geim about Nobel prize stories and graphene 'metamaterials'.

>>>Аndrei Geim - From graphene, temporarily not making money (P1)

Izvestia: Let's go back to graphene. He created it, evaluated its advantages. But how long will mankind benefit from these results? Are we really at the threshold of a new production of materials, overturns of electronics and other technologies? Is it still very far away?

Andrei Geim: Honestly, my answer is yes and no. There are already small companies, many others selling graphene materials to scientific research facilities. For example, making conductive ink for example. Sales of this industry around the world amounted to several million dollars a year. That itself was shocking enough because in the history of never a single material in just five years from the academic laboratory was ' jumping ' right into industrial production.

Usually it takes 10 years, like Teflon, for example. And silicon takes 100 years. Although it is said that it will overthrow the electronics industry - graphene will replace silicon's role - but now, that is just a dream. Humans also need a lot of effort but its massive appearance is far away from the horizon of the horizon. All promises today are still empty words. But the time from the beginning to the end will have countless important applications.

You try to tell me something .

I just arrived at Samsung. People showed me their ' graphene program, ' which is the route for creating devices on graphene's base. From now until 2025, they will implement from 50 to 100 promising applications of graphene. The first application, according to them, is just another one to two years of graphene will be used to cover the touchscreen of the mobile phone. This material will have a very wide application that no one doubts, leaving only the question: how much to spend on that. 10 billion dollars or 100 trillion dollars? Just put into a narrow application or bowl of any household appliances inherit our invention?

Scientists leave Russia, mainly looking for working conditions, but there are also reasons for material remuneration. Do you think that is the main reason, plus the advantages of organizing scientific activities in Europe?

It depends on which level you are in. I suspect that a Nobel Prize winner in Russia is far better than the people of that level who live in England and other countries. And even if you are a really good person who is passionate about and trying to make new things (but not yet), the difference with him is a heavenly one. Funding for basic research in Russia RFFI is in principle the only organization to divide funds according to votes, based on contributions to science.

But in fact it is not spent on polls of works, but divided according to relationships, for positions, etc. The system in England is different: If I have no guarantee From the competitions, I can't do anything with the university budget. Saying in the children's book 'Alice in the extraordinary world', in order to stand still, one must run, run, run without rest. In Russia it is not, people do not want to run but want to be the leader. People find ways to swim in a dense environment. Recently, someone suggested that I give a brief comment on the state of Russian science, I said a 'people rolling' sentence.

His friends in Russia recounted that he was an avid traveler and a passionate mountain climber. When he lived in England, did he still have that passion?

I still love such high mountains. Only regret in 2010, I didn't go anywhere. Two years ago, I went to Equador, climbed to the top of Kotopachi Mountain. Hopefully next year I will conquer the highest mountain in Borneo.

If so, his health must be good. How does he maintain health?

Ten years before the birth of my niece, I was very stressed, so much that I grew up to 10kg, but it has not been reduced yet. Although it is quite heavy - 100 kg of muscle - I still climb the medicinal mountain. That way, I can keep my 'phom'. Twice a week I go to the gym. I run, play gymnastics. If I don't practice like that, my ability to work immediately decreases.

How much does each training session run?

Five kilometers. It took half an hour, half an hour to practice on sports equipment.

He is an example for most scientists. In most scientific circles, not many people can do this.

No. When I was in Tchernogolovka, everyone practiced sports.

How did your young lady Alexandra study?

Very good. Both Math, Ly, and other subjects.

Does she speak Russian?

It does not speak both Russian and Dutch. He now considers himself a Dutch daughter, but that is too bad (Andrei Geim and his family are both Dutch nationals).

And in your family also speak English?

I told my wife in Russian, but conversing with my daughter turned to English. He also understood Russian but could not speak. We plan to send it to live with my brother or another family. They live in Germany, but go home to speak all Russian. Speaking English, no one will force it to use Russian. I still have many friends in Russia but it is difficult to return to Russia.

What happen?

I was once called to by the Russian Consulate in London but couldn't come. To apply for a visa to any country like India, China . I just need to send my passport by post, fill out the pre-printed application and pay it. But for Russia, it is clear that the black and white paper, which was formerly Russian citizens, cannot receive visas by post, but must go to the consulate themselves to check. The consulate is in London, taking the train by yourself and returning, I have no time.

Do you still want to go to Russia?

It doesn't depend on me. If they don't cause trouble, I'll go!

In the future what will you do about it?

Graphen - it's such a big field that if you stand there, you can jump very far. I'm a physicist and I've never thought of a time when it will turn to chemistry. But recently, I jumped to Fluorographen and recently announced this substance, a purely academic subject.

In the next five to ten years I have no intention of removing graphene. This reminds me of a work by Jack London about the discovery of Alaska. The story is like this. A group of people went to dig gold, hundreds of people climbed a hill. In the backpack of each person, there are poles. They piled on the ground to explore. Graphene is the Alaska region full of yellow veins scattered. Many people can find those gold vessels. I have a lot of piles and hope to also pile myself down on the ground. That's all.