Yves Chauvin
Yves Chauvin
Yves Chauvinwas a French chemist and Nobel Prize laureate. He was honorary research director at the Institut français du pétrole and a member of the French Academy of Science. He was known for his work for deciphering the process of metathesis for which he was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth10 October 1930
CountryFrance
choose mainly military regretted task though totally various
Various circumstances, mainly to do with my military service, prevented me from doing a Ph.D., and I have often regretted it, though you do need to choose the 'right' supervisor in the 'right' discipline - no easy task when you are totally inexperienced.
although applied areas based difference taste worked
There is no difference between fundamental research and applied research. Although this is my view, based on personal taste and the areas I have worked in, it is not necessarily true for others.
fond given lessons months playing spend
My grandmother was fond of painting and playing the piano. She had been given lessons by Emmanuel Chabrier, who used to spend the summer months in nearby Membrolle.
chemistry field fortunate immense instant intense marked opens suddenly
Like all sciences, chemistry is marked by magic moments. For someone fortunate enough to live such a moment, it is an instant of intense emotion: an immense field of investigation suddenly opens up before you.
brilliant perfectly
To be perfectly truthful, I was not a very brilliant student, even at chemistry school.
chemical reader
I have always been an avid reader of chemical literature, eager for what is new.
I had no training in research as such, and as a consequence, I am, in a sense, self-taught.
buried family holidays large numerous spend village
I used to spend my holidays there in my grandparents' large family house, with my numerous cousins. When I die, I am going to be buried in the village cemetery.
although enjoy food fussy good
I am still not a fussy eater, although I do enjoy good food.
amount attitude certain failure motto risk slightest succeed taking tends worth
My motto is more, 'If you want to find something new, look for something new!' There is a certain amount of risk in this attitude, as even the slightest failure tends to be resounding, but you are so happy when you succeed that it is worth taking the risk.