Science transcends boundaries of nations, cultures
Indian-born theoretical physicist Abhay Vasant Ashtekar on Tuesday received the prestigious Einstein prize conferred by the American Physical Society. Ashtekar, born in Shirpur, Maharashtra, was awarded the prize for “numerous and seminal contributions to general relativity, including the theory of black holes, canonical quantum gravity, and quantum cosmology” .
The biennial Einstein prize of $10,000 recognises outstanding accomplishments in the field of gravitational physics. Ashtekar, 69, is likely to use the money to contribute to scientific societies or support the travel expenses of young scientists attending conferences. Ashtekar holds many titles at Pennsylvania State University – physics professor, Evan Pugh Professor and director of the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos. In an email interview with Snehal Fernandes, Ashtekar commented on his choosing general relativity, cosmology and quantum physics to specialise in.
Your reaction on receiving the Einstein Prize?
Fifteen years ago, American Physical Society awarded its first Einstein prize jointly to (the late) Peter Bergmann and John Wheeler. They introduced general relativity to universities in the US by creating the first research groups in this area. Perhaps because the first award often sets the tone, subsequent prizes have come to recognise ‘lifetime achievements’ rather than a single discovery. So I assumed that the award was given in the same spirit.
What attracted you to work in the areas of general relativity, cosmology, quantum physics, and gravitational waves?
When I had to decide which universities in the US to apply to for my Ph.D, I decided on general relativity, cosmology and quantum physics because that is where the most fundamental questions about space, time and the nature of the physical universe lie. My interest in gravitational waves came a bit later when I transferred from University of Texas at Austin to Chicago to work with my Ph.D. advisor, professor Robert Geroch, in the group that was headed by professor S Chandrasekhar, the pre-eminent astrophysicist of the 20th century. There are two facts that attracted me. First, gravitational waves are ripples in the very fabric of space-time and the theoretical tools to identify them are subtle, elegant and deep. Second, because of these subtleties, there was confusion for several decades on the basic question of the physical reality of gravitational waves. For example even (Albert) Einstein thought in 1936 that they do not exist in full general relativity! So I started thinking about the deep conceptual issues associated with gravitational waves. The field turned out to be extremely fertile and there are still open problems we are pursuing.
What is your message to Indian students pursuing basic sciences since it is still not considered as attractive as applied sciences?
I have always believed that one should do what one is passionate about. It is not so easy to completely ignore material rewards but that should not be the primary driving force. Because of its universal nature, science transcends boundaries of nations, cultures and, even times. Every educated person has heard of (Isaac) Newton and (Albert) Einstein because they were able to discover fundamental laws of nature,transcending the artificial boundaries human societies create. To pursue pure science, and do well in it, one has to be consumed by fundamental mysteries and tremendously focussed. Rewards should not be the primary concern –they come in due time if one’s primary interest lies in solving these mysteries.
MUMBAI:
Who were your role models, and what did you learn from them?
I was extremely fortunate to have great mentors who also became my role models. The most lasting influence came from three role models: Robert Geroch, S. Chandrasekhar, and Roger Penrose, my post-doctoral advisor at Oxford University. From Bob Geroch, I learned how to think clearly, incisively and develop my own, fresh perspectives. From Roger Penrose I learned the art of `dreaming’ --the mysterious process by which one gropes in the dark and grasps the key structures even before they have come into light. And from Chandra –as we all called him—I learned what the `inner, moral fiber’ of a scientist should be. Above all, two lessons stood out. First, what distinguishes great scientists is that while good scientists can solve very difficult problems, the great ones know which problems to solve. Second, scientists can make monumental contributions and yet be rather poor human beings. Scientific success alone does not suffice to select good role models. One has to also have a strong moral fiber.