André Geim

André Geim
Name	André Geim
Birth date	21 October 1958
Birth place	Sochi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian / Dutch / British
Fields	Physics, Materials science, Nanotechnology
Alma mater	Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institute for Microelectronics Technology and High Purity Materials
Doctoral advisor	Aleksandr Nepomnyashchii
Known for	Graphene
Prizes	Nobel Prize in Physics, Kapitza Prize, Europhysics Prize

André Geim is a physicist noted for pioneering experiments in two-dimensional materials, particularly the isolation and characterization of Graphene. His work spans experimental condensed matter physics, low-dimensional systems, and innovative laboratory techniques that connected research communities at institutions like the University of Manchester, Radboud University Nijmegen, and the Institute for Microelectronics Technology and High Purity Materials. Geim's career earned him international recognition including the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Early life and education

Born in Sochi during the Soviet Union era, Geim completed primary and secondary education in the Russian SFSR and entered the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, where he studied Physics. He undertook postgraduate research at the Institute for Microelectronics Technology and High Purity Materials in Chernogolovka, working under advisor Aleksandr Nepomnyashchii and receiving a PhD in experimental physics. During this period he collaborated with researchers from institutes such as the Kurchatov Institute and attended conferences organized by societies like the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Research and career

Geim moved to Europe for postdoctoral work, holding positions at the University of Nottingham and later at Radboud University Nijmegen where he built expertise in magnetotransport and mesoscopic physics. He joined the University of Manchester faculty and co-founded the Manchester Centre for Mesoscience and Nanotechnology, bringing together groups from Cavendish Laboratory, National Graphene Institute, and industrial partners including Nokia and Intel for translational research. Geim's groups used techniques developed in collaborations with teams at NTU Singapore, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and ETH Zurich to study low-dimensional conductors, employing measurements common in International Union of Pure and Applied Physics symposia.

Graphene discovery and Nobel Prize

In experiments conducted at the University of Manchester with collaborator Konstantin Novoselov, Geim isolated single-atom-thick sheets of graphite using a mechanical exfoliation technique that became known colloquially as the "Scotch tape method". The isolated Graphene flakes revealed Dirac fermion behavior analogous to predictions associated with the Dirac equation and exhibited exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, stimulating rapid work at centers such as the California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, National Institute for Materials Science, and Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. For these discoveries, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics; the prize citation highlighted their work's impact on Materials science and potential applications in electronics pursued by companies like Samsung and IBM.

Other research contributions

Beyond graphene, Geim contributed to research on Mesoscopic physics, Quantum Hall effect, and novel composite systems including graphene oxide and heterostructures incorporating hexagonal boron nitride investigated alongside groups from Columbia University, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge. His laboratory produced notable experiments on friction and adhesion in low-dimensional systems with implications for studies at Drexel University and Brown University. Geim also led unconventional projects such as levitation of diamagnetic materials and demonstration of magnetic levitation with neodymium magnets, linking to earlier work by scientists at the Royal Society and experimental techniques discussed at the American Physical Society meetings. Collaborative efforts extended to teams at Seoul National University, University of Tokyo, and University of Chicago on transport phenomena and optoelectronic properties.

Awards and honors

Geim's honors include the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Kapitza Prize, the Europhysics Prize, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association-unrelated Rutherford Medal alternatives in scientific communities, and membership in academies such as the Royal Society and the European Academy of Sciences. He received honorary degrees and lectureships from institutions including University of Oxford, Imperial College London, Heidelberg University, and École Polytechnique. Geim has been recognized with prizes awarded at meetings of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics, and the Royal Institution.

Personal life and outreach

Geim has been active in science communication and outreach, delivering public lectures at venues such as the Royal Institution and participating in policy discussions with bodies like the European Commission on innovation in materials. He maintained connections to his Russian roots while holding citizenships associated with Netherlands and United Kingdom, collaborating internationally with scholars from Ukraine, Belarus, Germany, and Poland. Geim cultivated an informal laboratory culture that encouraged high-risk, high-reward experiments and multidisciplinary collaborations with engineers and industry partners including Siemens and British Telecom. Outside academia he has engaged with educational initiatives and science festivals such as the Cheltenham Science Festival to promote interest in Physics and experimental research.

Category:Physicists Category:Nobel laureates in Physics