Head of Department Letter October 2023

Dear colleagues,
Actually, this prefect's letter was supposed to be about something completely different, but some news intervened. This news is of course that Anne L'Huillier is awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics, together with Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz. What news! The honour for this achievement is first and foremost Anne's and also the people who have worked with Anne on the research that has now led to the Nobel Prize, especially the people in her research group.

One cannot help reflecting on everything that has been said and heard since Tuesday, 11.50 a.m. Once again, it becomes clear that a long time perspective and great perseverance are required for successful research. The Royal Academy of Sciences referred to a series of Anne's works that are the basis for the Nobel Prize, beginning in the late 80s, through the entire 90s and into the 2000s. When Anne spoke to the press during the improvised press conference in the Rydberg Lecture Hall, she described so well that there are many doubts and obstacles on the path of research, there is not a straight line from idea to Nobel Prize. Can our idea even work? What do we do when it turns out not to work? Shouldn't we try a completely different way? It is perhaps the most difficult thing about research that it requires so much stubbornness, which, in addition, needs to be paired with flexibility and acceptance of mistakes and failure, over a very long period of time. KVA's reference to the various works also means that it becomes clear that part of the research behind the Nobel Prize was carried out here in Lund.

We are happy that Anne was able to find an environment in Lund that allowed and allows her and her team to conduct research at the highest level. It is individual people as well as environments that are behind the major discoveries and developments. With the right environment, we can succeed in having the right people in place, and with the right environment, we can give them the conditions to be able to collaborate successfully.

But what is the right environment? What worked thirty years ago may not necessarily work today. The world with all its facets is in constant change. But one thing has probably always been and remains of the utmost importance: it is the collegiality of treating each other with respect and of supporting each other - something that Anne is extremely good at!

I also noticed a small incident, namely that a Swedish reporter started talking to Anne in English and was almost surprised that she answered in Swedish. Anne was clear on Tuesday that Sweden is her home. This is also important: that we make space for those who come from elsewhere and that those who come adapt to this space, so that their belonging becomes real.

There is so much more to think about, but now I want to finish by thanking Anne for showing the priority that our education and teaching have: namely the very highest. It is the most important thing we do, and Anne could not have shown this better than by continuing to teach after the phone call notifying her of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics and likewise by continuing to teach on Wednesday.

Many congratulations to you, Anne, and to the many who have worked with you over the years on ground-breaking research, and a big thank you to you for what you have done and are doing for us!

Achim