Nobel laureate will open a research laboratory in Russia: what will it do

The name of Konstantin Novoselov is well known not only to every Russian scientist, but also to the entire world scientific community. It was he who in 2004 discovered a new allotropic modification of carbon - graphenewhich is a single layercarbon atoms. And 6 years later, in 2010, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for advanced experiments with this material. And there is a good reason, because graphene is not only the most durable, lightest and most electrically conductive version of a carbon compound, it can also be an excellent replacement for silicon, especially in the semiconductor industry. Novoselov is a world scientist who works in leading laboratories of the world, is an honorary member of the US National Academy of Sciences and even received the title of knight-bachelor from Queen Elizabeth II for services to science. At the same time, he was born and raised in the USSR and does not forget about his native places: soon a scientific laboratory will open in Russia under his leadership.

Nobel laureate and Russian oligarch want to revive fundamental science in Russia

What will Konstantin Novosyolov's laboratory do in Russia

In front of the new laboratory Konstantin Novoselov wants to set several tasks at once.The first is direct scientific research, namely the development of advanced "smart" materials, and all this ... yes, based on graphene. The laboratory will be engaged in the creation of two-dimensional structures with programmable properties, such technologies are not found anywhere else in the world. Russia will have something to respond to the United States and other countries that are developing alternative energy sources and launching rockets to Mars. The research that will be carried out in the new laboratory can become the foundation for new scientific discoveries.

Such materials can be used inneuromorphic computers, - explains Novosyolov. “They will also allow us to create interfaces with living objects, which will help to explore in new ways, for example, the human brain.

Konstantin Novoselov - Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics

The laboratory will be created on the basis of the Center for the Study of the Brain and Consciousness and will thoroughly study the human brain using artificial supersensitive sensors.

The development of basic science is veryimportant, and the opening of such a laboratory in Russia will definitely benefit the entire Russian scientific community. Unlike fly-by-night startups from Silicon Valley, which are focused on quick profit, fundamental research is precisely the basis of science and new discoveries. They are the ones who change our world. For example, it was fundamental science that proved in 2011 that the Earth is not unique, that billions of potentially inhabited planets can be present in our galaxy alone. And in 2012, the existence of the Higgs boson, the so-called "particle of God", was discovered. Rewritable genes, gravitational waves, even changing memories - all these discoveries became possible thanks to fundamental science... In the coming years, other scientific breakthroughs will be made within the framework of fundamental scientific research.

Graphene really has great potential and has the potential to revolutionize technology

Solve the brain drain problem

The Nobel laureate himself admits that he is very happythe opening of a laboratory in Russia, in their homeland. The new laboratory will help Russian scientists, including young specialists, realize themselves, provide the necessary means and tools for new scientific discoveries to return Russia's potential scientific superpower... For the first time in a long time, there is hope that Russia will really join the technology race in deeds, not in words.

Thus, promising young professionals will be able to unleash their potential at home, which, in turn, can help solve the problem with Brain drainwhich has only been getting bigger since 2000. It is possible that other research centers will be opened on the basis of Novosyolov's laboratory.

Why Invest in Basic Science?

Why is there still hope that this projectWill "shoot"? It will be developed not with public funds, but with private funds. The laboratory was initiated by Russian businessman Vladimir Potanin, who has already identified 500 million rubles for the creation and operation of the laboratory, includingincluding research. This money will be enough for 5 years of the project, and later other investors can join. Now they are mainly investing in specific applied developments with their quick commercial return, but when the potential of fundamental science in Russia is revealed at least a little, investors themselves will line up. The SpaceX example showed how a privately funded company can be successful in science.

As Potanin himself says, investing in fundamental science will create an important reserve for the future for Russia, and he sees great potential in this direction.

Vladimir Potanin believes in the development of fundamental science in Russia

This is a very interesting topic that hasperspective, there are many applied stories. And I like the idea of ​​returning to Russia the talents and brains that have "flowed" to the West over the past decades. In addition, the Nobel laureate is a quality mark, which means that we are engaged in a really demanded, necessary business.

Scientists are well aware that the most important partthis progress will also depend on the ability to share your thoughts, ideas and discoveries with the general public. And as access to knowledge through the new laboratory becomes truly universal, this only reinforces this desire.