Date of Birth: April 5, 1929
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Biography
Ivar Giaever is a Norwegian-American physicist who was born on April 5, 1929, in Bergen, Norway. He is best known for his work on tunneling phenomena in superconductors, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 along with Leo Esaki and Brian Josephson. Giaever’s academic journey began at the Norwegian Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1952. He later moved to Canada, working for General Electric (GE) in Toronto before relocating to the United States. Giaever’s groundbreaking research in the field of superconductivity began at GE’s Research and Development Center in Schenectady, New York. His experiments demonstrated the quantum mechanical tunneling in superconductors, which was a significant contribution to the field of condensed matter physics. Besides his Nobel-winning work, Giaever has also made contributions to biophysics and has been a vocal critic of various scientific and political issues. In his later years, Giaever transitioned into academia, holding positions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and the University of Oslo. He remains an influential figure in the scientific community, known for both his pioneering research and his outspoken views.
5 Interesting Facts about Ivar Giaever
1. Ivar Giaever shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for his experimental discoveries regarding tunneling phenomena in superconductors.
2. Before becoming a physicist, Giaever earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
3. Giaever worked for General Electric in both Canada and the United States, where he conducted his Nobel-winning research.
4. He has served as a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Oslo.
5. Giaever is known for his controversial views on climate change, which have sparked debate within the scientific community.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ivar Giaever
1. “I am a skeptic… Global warming has become a new religion.”
2. “The Nobel Prize gives you an opportunity to make a fool of yourself in public.”
3. “Physics is a great adventure and a great challenge.”
4. “We should always be questioning our assumptions and our understanding of the world.”
5. “In science, there is no authority. You have to prove everything.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Ivar Giaever is estimated to be around $1-2 million.
Children
Ivar Giaever has four children: John, Anne, Guri, and Trine Giaever.
Relevant Links
1. [Nobel Prize Biography](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1973/giaever/biographical/
2. [Ivar Giaever at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](https://faculty.rpi.edu/ivar-giaever
