"Are you serious?" Interview with Thomas C. Südhof, 2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

Transcript

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Summary

In this video, Professor Thomas Südhof is informed by Adam Smith from Nobel Media about his Nobel Prize win. Südhof is surprised and delighted by the news and expresses his gratitude for being recognized alongside James Rothman and Randy Schekman. During the conversation, Südhof discusses his drive for hard work, the honor of being a scientist, and his upcoming talk.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Professor Südhof react when he is informed about the Nobel Prize?

Professor Südhof is initially shocked and exclaims, "Are you serious?" He then laughs and expresses his surprise, saying, "Oh my god."

Q: Who contacted Professor Südhof to inform him about the Nobel Prize?

Adam Smith from Nobel Media contacts Professor Südhof to inform him about the Nobel Prize.

Q: What was Professor Südhof doing at the time of the call?

Professor Südhof reveals that he was driving in an unknown location in Spain when he received the call.

Q: Who did Adam Smith speak to before contacting Professor Südhof?

Adam Smith spoke to Professor Südhof's wife in California before contacting him.

Q: How does Professor Südhof's wife react to the news?

Professor Südhof's wife seemed happy when Adam Smith informed her about the Nobel Prize, although she was likely still groggy from being woken up.

Q: What other award did Professor Südhof recently receive?

Just a few weeks prior, Professor Südhof received the Lasker Award in New York.

Q: Did Professor Südhof expect to win the Nobel Prize?

Professor Südhof admits that there was speculation about his chances of winning, but he personally did not think he would be awarded. However, he considers it an incredible honor.

Q: How does Professor Südhof feel about sharing the Nobel Prize with James Rothman and Randy Schekman?

Professor Südhof expresses his joy and believes it is incredibly fair to be awarded alongside Rothman and Schekman. He acknowledges that people may have different views, but he considers it a just outcome.

Q: What is Professor Südhof known for?

Professor Südhof is renowned for his productivity and hard work in the field of science. When asked about what drives him, he laughs and mentions that his wife thinks he is crazy. He admits to feeling incredibly driven and privileged to be a scientist.

Q: What does Professor Südhof have planned after receiving the Nobel Prize?

Professor Südhof mentions that he has a talk scheduled for the afternoon, implying that he will continue with his commitments despite the surprise. He expresses how much he enjoys his work and considers it a privilege to be a scientist.

Takeaways

Professor Thomas Südhof reacts with surprise and joy upon learning about his Nobel Prize win. He appreciates the honor of being recognized alongside his fellow scientists and emphasizes his drive for hard work. Despite the unexpected news, Professor Südhof remains committed to his work and considers being a scientist a great privilege.