Sir Andre Konstantin Geim, born(21 October 1958) is a Soviet-born Dutch-British physicist working at the University of Manchester.
Early Life
Andre Geim was born to Konstantin Alekseyevich Geim and Nina Nikolayevna Bayer in Sochi on 21 October 1958. Both his parents were engineers of German origin.In 1965, the family moved to Nalchik, Russia,where he studied at a high school.After graduation, he applied to the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute.He took the entrance exams twice, but attributes his failure to qualify to discrimination on account of his German ethnicity.He then applied to the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), where he was accepted. He said that at the time he would not have chosen to study solid-state physics, preferring particle physics or astrophysics, but is now happy with his choice.He received a diplom (MSc degree equivalent) from MIPT in 1982 and a Candidate of Sciences (PhD equivalent) degree in metal physics in 1987 from the Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in Chernogolovka.
Achievments and Researches
Geim's achievements include the discovery of a simple method for isolating single atomic layers of graphite, known as graphene, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Manchester and IMT. The team published their findings in October 2004 in Science.
Graphene consists of one-atom-thick layers of carbon atoms arranged in two-dimensional hexagons, and is the thinnest material in the world, as well as one of the strongest and hardest. The material has many potential applications and is considered a superior alternative to silicon.
Geim said one of the first applications of graphene could be in the development of flexible touchscreens, and that he has not patented the material because he would need a specific application and an industrial partner.
"Spider-Man test" of gecko tape
Geim was involved in the development of a biomimetic adhesive which became known as gecko tape—so called because of the adhesiveness of gecko feet—research of which is still in the early stages.It is hoped that the development will eventually allow humans to scale ceilings, like Spider-Man.
Geim's research in 1997 into the possible effects of magnetism on water scaling led to the famous discovery of direct diamagnetic levitation of water, and led to a frog being levitated.For this experiment, he and Michael Berry received the 2000 Ig Nobel Prize."We were asked first whether we dared to accept this prize, and I take pride in our sense of humor and self-deprecation that we did".
Geim has also carried out research on mesoscopic physics and superconductivity.
He said of the range of subjects he has studied: "Many people choose a subject for their PhD and then continue the same subject until they retire. I despise this approach. I have changed my subject five times before I got my first tenured position and that helped me to learn different subjects."
Geim's research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
He named his favourite hamster, H.A.M.S. ter Tisha, co-author in a 2001 research paper.
Ig Nobel Prize (2000)
Mott Prize (2007)
EuroPhysics Prize (2008)
Körber Prize (2009)
John J. Carty Award (2010)
Hughes Medal (2010)
Nobel Prize in Physics (2010)
Knight Bachelor (2012)
Copley Medal (2013)
