Donna Strickland: ‘My career goal was to get a PhD’
The Nobel prize-winning physicist on the joys of doing nothing, meeting the Pope and how her PhD completed her life’s goals
I heard about PhDs when I was still in elementary school. It stayed in my head that it’s the ultimate in education – a person who was really going to stay in school got a PhD. I just knew, even in elementary school, that I belonged in school.
My career goal was to get a PhD. I didn’t actually have plans after that. That was really where my life’s goal ended. So it is kind of funny that I won the Nobel prize for it.
I like to do nothing. My sister and I have cottages 14 apart on Lake Huron and depending on which way the wind blows, I float down on my floaty chair and anchor with her or I float home after I’ve anchored with her. We just sit out there and chit chat.