Interview with Fred Kavli Interviewer: Hitoshi Murayama

all very excited about it and Grew Up Beneath the Northern Lights of delighted that IPMU is now part of our family of institutes. Murayama: Thank you again Murayama: Can you tell for this wonderful generous us a little bit about your gift to IPMU, and we are very upbringing and what got happy to be joining the Kavli you interested in supporting Family Institutes and having science? met the directors from other Kavli: Well, I think it started institutes over the last several early. It’s because I grew up days. I am so happy to be a so close to nature, maybe that part of this incredible family. had something to do with it. It’s an excellent…the research There were such tremendous institutions, very powerful and forces of nature and such collegial relationship among beauty. And when the them. In addition to, of course, northern lights practically hit the endowment joining this you on the head, you wake family, it looks like really up. wonderful bene t of being Murayama: I actually have Kavli IMPU now. So thank you never seen the northern lights again for this. so far. I’d love to see that. Kavli: Well, thank you. We are Kavli: When they are strong, they dance all over the sky. It’s really quite a sight. Then, Fred Kavli is founder and chairman of of course, where I grew up, The Kavli Foundation. A Norwegian- born U.S. citizen, he is a physicist, you didn’t have any lights at entrepreneur, business leader, night reducing your sight of innovator and philanthropist. His many honors include receiving the the sky, and the air used to be Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for very, very clear, so you would Outstanding Service and in 2008 he was awarded an honorary doctorate, see all the stars, along with Doctor Honoris Causa, by the shooting stars all the time. Norwegian University of Science and Technology. In 2009, he received an Murayama: Did you have a honorary Doctor of Science degree telescope? from Northwestern University. In 2011 he received the Bower Award Kavli: No telescope I’m afraid. for Business Leadership from the But we had the beauty of the , and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. In 2011, evenings, the stillness and he was also conferred the degree quietness, and sometimes of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of . we would walk through the

20 Kavli IPMU News No. 18 June 2012 mountains at night because planks that could be sold to we took long trips. That furniture manufacturers. It was exciting and sometimes wasn’t a big business, but dangerous. we made a pro t. And then Murayama: What made those the war came, and we made walks dangerous? these briquettes for the gas Kavli: For example, one time generators that would be during World War II I was mounted on the back of the carrying some guns over from cars and buses and trucks to my grandfather’s place to produce the syngas, which our place to hide them. We was used instead of gasoline were walking when some during the war. It was a good German planes came over. experience, as it gave me The guns were sticking out of con dence later that I could my rucksack but we decided run a business and make a go we would just stay put and of it ̶ and make a pro t. not move, rather than run to Murayama: Then, you went to hide by a big boulder, which university and chose physics. was a good decision. Another Why was that? time, we were walking below Kavli: I was interested in a very steep mountain during many different things; even winter when there was an interested in psychology avalanche. That was extremely and philosophy. I was even dangerous. thinking about studying Murayama: I read that you medicine, but I didn’t because and your brother had been I found physics the most running a business already in interesting. It’s the basis of high school days. science in many ways. Physics and mathematics always came Started First Business in His easily to me. We had only Youth seven students in our class, so Kavli: I had a brother who we had a good time. was seven years older than Murayama: You decided to I am and we did two things. leave for the The very rst business we after this? Interview started was to cut trees down, and then he set up Hitoshi Murayama is Director of Kavli IPMU. He is also Professor at the a little sawmill to make University of , Berkeley.

21 Kavli: Yes. My father had about this transition, and foundation. incredible potential. Of course lived in San Francisco for 13 what motivated you to do so? Kavli: Right. We have patience. to understand the brain, you years before coming back to Murayama: Excellent. I am know, it’s one of the most Norway, marrying my mother also a little curious to know complex of things, but we are Wanted to Do Something and taking over her farm. So of Long-Range Benefit to why you chose these four making progress and it’s very, he got stuck (laughs). Humanity elds to support: astrophysics, very exciting, and we’re going Murayama: I see. But you Kavli: I had thought about that nanoscience, , to see great bene ts from were free. for a very long time actually. I and theoretical physics. that. And also, to learn more Kavli: I was, but of course a wanted to do something more Kavli: It’s simply because about the universe and how lot of people traveled and than just starting a business I think these are the most it operates, and its origins and worked in America and and making a lot of money. exciting elds. These are the future ̶ that is exciting. settled down in America at I wanted to do something of elds where you are going Murayama: I also know you that time. My father’s sister a more long-range bene t. If to see the most revolutionary have this philosophy that you went to the United States I was very successful, I had a discoveries and bene ts don’t want to micromanage and came back. She didn’t plan to start a foundation for in many ways. But these the Institutes. stay there permanently. His a number of years. Then, in bene ts are hard to know Kavli: Yes, I absolutely believe brother passed away just 2000, I sold my business and in advance because we are we cannot tell them what before I came along. But that gave me the opportunity never good at predicting the to do. What we can do is really, it probably wasn’t so to follow my early dream. I future, but I am con dent support them as they grow, much because of that that I had started some charitable many, many bene ts to become successful and do came to the U.S. There were a activities before that, but it humanity will come. The the best research. Of course, couple of other reasons why was after selling my business history of human beings is to getting visibility is also an I came to America, one being that the foundation really strive to understand nature important factor because if physics where, at that time, materialized. and the universe. And physics, you get good visibility ̶ and the opportunity obviously Murayama: Many foundations of course, is the foundation, I good visibility for doing good was in America and the best sort of try to support things think, for most of science. work, of course ̶ that helps climate was in California so that have more immediate Murayama: That’s what I enable you to attract the best that’s… impact, but your foundation is believe! (laughs). Could you scientists. Murayama: …so that’s a killer quite different in that aspect. tell us a bit about the Kavli Murayama: I completely combination. Kavli: I always thought that Prizes? agree, yeah. Kavli: Yes. it’s harder to get attention to Kavli: The Kavli Prizes are Kavli: That’s one of the Murayama: You had a the long-range ̶ the good awarded in three elds: reasons we are trying to long career in physics ̶ in things that matter far into the astrophysics, nanoscience, and give visibility to scientists in business, of course, and it future. That’s what we are neuroscience. It goes from the general because we support was extremely successful, as I doing basically. That’s why we largest to the smallest to the science and we believe in its understand. Then, you decided are supporting basic science. most complex. When it comes track record in increasing the to build the foundation. Can Murayama: That is really to nanoscience, it’s a very standard of living and our you tell me a little bit more laudable about this new eld, but I think it has health and well being. We

22 Kavli IPMU News No. 18 June 2012 want to support the institutes afterwards? really stimulates me and really of you. and help them on their way Kavli: It was excellent. And thinking about the same Murayama: Okay. I am to excellence. I think bringing together problem in different ways and getting a signal now that Murayama: Coming back to the Kavli institutes was different approaches ̶ so we should close. I thank you this week’s event, what has very important. As you talk meeting people in symposia again for making this trip been the most important to people, you get ideas and meetings of course is and all the generous trips thing? Meeting the Prime ̶ something you may not incredibly important for us. you have made. I am really Minister? have thought about. We And we had the ceremony. A looking forward to a very long are trying to do this across lot of people actually told me relationship between you, the Greatly Enjoyed the Kavli different disciplines too. after the ceremony that they foundation, and our institute, IPMU Week Certainly with nanoscience were moved by your speech. and it looks like it’s going to Kavli: It was delightful to and neuroscience, there has Kavli: Well, thank you. be a wonderful time to work meet the Prime Minister. been quite a bit of work in Murayama: The way you together. We were certainly extremely between the institutes. And actually spoke was not only Kavli: And thank you. It honored that he would all the Institutes are interested eloquent but also poetic; it certainly has been a delightful receive us, and he showed in the problem of computing moved a lot of people. The visit. I especially want to thank an interest in science, and power and things like that, same was said about your you. You are an incredible an interest in what we are which is common certainly to speech at the public lectures leader here, and a dynamo, doing. And of course, this astrophysics as well. in the afternoon. I got several and you get things done. I is also extremely important Murayama: Yeah, I completely emails afterwards telling expect and I am sure I will because let’s face it, most of agree. Meeting people me how they appreciated see great things under your the funding for science comes with different ideas, maybe your speech. Your vigor and leadership. Interview from government. even different opinions of emotion all came out, and Murayama: Thank you so Murayama: Did you also enjoy the same thing, or totally that was wonderful. much. the symposium we went to different approaches, that Kavli: Thank you. It’s very kind

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