Episodes

  • First Reactions | James Robinson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | James Robinson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 14 2024
    “Get up, you need to get up! You’ve won the Nobel Prize.” That’s how James Robinson discovered he was a 2024 economic sciences laureate, as his wife, Maria Angélica Bautista, woke him up. In this brief call with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith he talks about the root causes of poverty and how to build the types of political structures that enhance prosperity: “Inclusive institutions are not created by well-meaning elites. They’re created by people who fight for their rights.”

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • First Reactions | Daron Acemoglu, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | Daron Acemoglu, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 14 2024
    “There’s nothing natural about 30-, 40-, 50- fold differences in income per capita in a globalised, connected world.” Daron Acemoglu, economic sciences laureate 2024, speaks about the root causes of persistent poverty among the poorest nations and how to build the types of inclusive institution that can support prosperity. In this conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded shortly after the prize announcement, Acemoglu also highlights the importance of democracy and his fears regarding AI, and how its misuse could result in a two-tier society.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • First Reactions | Simon Johnson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | Simon Johnson, prize in economic sciences 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 14 2024
    “True, genuine, inclusive democracy matters, very clearly.” Simon Johnson, economic sciences laureate 2024, learnt of the award from the congratulatory text messages piling-up on his phone. In this short conversation with the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith, recorded just moments after he had heard the news, he highlights the importance of participatory decision-making in making the most of human potential.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • First Reactions | Nihon Hidankyo, Nobel Peace Prize 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | Nihon Hidankyo, Nobel Peace Prize 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 11 2024
    “The dream came true!” The prize came as a big surprise, says Masako Wada, a representative from the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, which works to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. In this interview shortly after learning about the Nobel Peace Prize 2024, she shares her deep concerns on the world’s backlash on nuclear disarmament, not least after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “Rather than anger, I feel sorrow and fear how deep humans will fall into darkness.”

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • First Reactions | Han Kang, Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | Han Kang, Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 10 2024
    ”I’m so surprised and honoured.” 2024 literature laureate Han Kang had just finished dinner with her son at her home in Seoul when she received the news. In this interview with the Nobel Prize, she reflects on being the first South Korean literature laureate and talks about how writers as a collective have influenced her. “All their efforts and strengths have been my inspiration.” Han Kang also talks about her writing process on the international hit “The Vegetarian”, and recommends her most recent book “We Do Not Part” for anyone who’s curious to start reading her books.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
  • First Reactions | David Baker, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | David Baker, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 9 2024
    “I got the phone call and my wife promptly started screaming.” News of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry gave David Baker’s household a very early wake up call. Here, just after the prize announcement, Baker speaks to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith about the exciting potential of building brand new proteins, the inspirational effect his fellow laureates have had on his field and whether it is necessary to understand how predictive algorithms work.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • First Reactions | John Jumper, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | John Jumper, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 9 2024
    “It’s absolutely extraordinary.” John Jumper had just heard the news of his 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry when he spoke to the Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith. “I thought I had a 10 % chance,” he reveals. To save his nerves, his plan had been to sleep in until after the announcement, which didn’t quite work out. In the interview, he talks about being the youngest chemistry laureate in over 70 years, and about AI’s role in science. “What I love about all this is that we can draw a straight line from what we do to people being healthy.”

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • First Reactions | Demis Hassabis, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview

    First Reactions | Demis Hassabis, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 | Telephone interview
    Oct 9 2024
    “The best scientists paired with these kinds of tools will be able to do incredible things.” Demis Hassabis, 2024 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, reflects on building the right research environment and the interplay between AI and individual scientists. This short conversation with Nobel Prize’s Adam Smith was recorded just after he had received the call from Stockholm.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins