An interview with Andris Anspoks, Director of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL), was interviewed by Zinātnes Vēstnesis, a publication of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS). In November this year, he was elected a Full Member of the LAS. In the interview, the academician reflects on his path into science, how his experience in business and public administration influences research, the institute’s development vision, Latvia’s place in the landscape of global science, and the importance of a new generation of researchers. Below is a brief excerpt from the article.
“I entered science because from an early age I was deeply interested in how things work. I enjoyed taking mechanisms apart and building my own devices. By chance, I came across books on physics and chemistry, and that marked the beginning of my ‘home laboratory’ phase. [..] During my school years, I took part in academic competitions, attended science camp, and for the first time visited a ‘laser disco’ – at the Institute of Solid State Physics. At the camp, I realised there were many people like me, but at ISSP I understood that this was exactly where I wanted to work. […] I started with the simplest mechanical tasks, until I was entrusted with more serious assignments. My first scientific field was nonlinear optics – electro-optics and holographic recording in sillenites. I still vividly remember the atmosphere created by Guntis Liberts, Vismants Zauls, and Jānis Segliņš. Later, under the guidance of Jevgenijs Kotomins, I learned theoretical calculations, which was an excellent school and a unique environment. And with Ēriks Klotiņš we developed the first intracavity laser light deflector – today, this would be called an innovation project.”
