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'No string theorists in non-elite institutions'

VM

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Shiraz Naval Minwalla, a professor of theoretical physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, won the New Horizons in Physics Prize for 2013 on November 5. The prize – which recognizes 'promising researchers' and comes with a cash prize of $100,000 – is awarded by the Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation, set up by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner in 2012. Shiraz has been cited for his contributions to the study of string theory and quantum field theory, particularly for improving our understanding of the equations governing fluid dynamics, and using them to verify the predictions of all quantum field theories as opposed to a limited class of theories before. On November 12, Shiraz was also awarded the Infosys Foundation Prize in the physical sciences category. He was the youngest among this year’s winners.

I interviewed him over Skype for The Hindu (major hat-tip to Akshat Rathi), which is where this interview first appeared (on November 13, 2013). Shiraz had some important things to say, including the now-proverbial 'the Indian elementary school system sucks', and that India is anomalously strong in the arena of string theory research, although it doesn't yet match up to the US's output qualitatively, but that almost none of it happens in non-elite institutions.

Here we go.

Why do you work with string theory and quantum field theory? Why are you interested in these subjects?



What's the nature of your work that has snagged the New Horizons Prize? Could you describe it in simpler terms?



How do you see the Prize helping your research work? Does this make it easier for you to secure grants, etc.?

LaughsAfter being asked about winning the Infosys Foundation Prize

What do you think about the Fundamental Physics Prize in general? About what Yuri Milner has done for the world of physics research?



Are the Fundamental Physics Prizes in any way bringing "validity" to your areas of research? Are they bringing more favourable attention you wouldn't have been able to get otherwise?

What are your thoughts on the quality of physics research stemming from India? Are there enough opportunities for researchers at all levels of their careers?





laughs

Is there sufficient institutional and governmental support for researchers?



Institutions like TIFR, IIS, HRI and the National Centre for the Biological Sciences give good support and scientists should recognize this. There are few comparable places in the Third World. What we're missing however is the depth. The US research community has got so good because of its depth. Genuine, exciting research is not done just in the Ivy League institutions. Even small places have a Nobel Laureate teaching there. So, India may have lots of universities but they are somehow not able to produce good work.

We've had a couple Indians already in what's going to be three years of the Fundamental Physics Prizes - before you, there was Ashoke Sen. But in the Nobel Prizes in physics, we've had a stubborn no-show since Subramanyan Chandrasekhar won it in 1983. Why do you think that is?

There are two immediate responses. First is that, as I mentioned, India has an anomalously strong string theory presence. Why? I don't know. India is especially strong with string theory. And the Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation has so far had some focus on this. The Nobel Prizes on the other hand require experimental verification of hypotheses. So, for as long as the Foundation has focused on the mathematics in physics, India has done well.

What are you going to do with your $100,000?

I haven't seriously thought about it.

At the time of my interview, I had no idea he was about to win the Infosys Foundation Prize as well. It seems he's in great demand! Good luck, Shiraz. :)

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