#44 Travel, enthusiasm and history: an interview with Don and Silke Zagier

Send us Fan MailEpisode published 31/08/22In episode #44 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to both Don Zagier and Silke Zagier. Don is a widely respected number theorist and currently and currently "Retired Scientific Member and Director" of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. This summer he has been involved in two INI programmes: K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory and New connections in number theory and physics. Silke, meanwhile, is an experienced administrator and historian of mathematics. Topics covered include their individual life stories, as well as the realities of being a married, travelling couple within the world of academia.00:00 - Introduction00:48 - Welcome01:20 - Involvement in two consecutive INI programmes, travelling together as part of an academic career06:30 - Being the partner of an INI visitor, the potential for bringing young children12:20 - How to earn a significant academic reputation ("I just kept getting older and older... and people look up to you because you're still there!")14:20: Enthusiasm, and the motto "modular forms are everywhere"16:35: Adjusting to post-pandemic working, the challenges of delayed programmes at INI18:20: Highlight of an INI visit: to work with such a variety of people, and to visit other institutions (see Talks elsewhere)24:58: Silke's research into the history of Japanese mathematics during the country's "sakoku" period.