On December 10, exactly one year ago, Ferenc, dressed in formal attire, gratefully received the Nobel Prize medal — the highest scientific honor in physics — from King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm. One year later, Ferenc expressed his gratitude once again — this time, in a more casual outfit — at the annual attoworld Christmas party in the Herbert Walther Lecture Hall at the MPQ. He took the opportunity to thank all his teams and colleagues.
As many names had to be mentioned, this thoroughness took some time and slightly impacted the program schedule. Ferenc brought with him to the stage the custom-designed prototype of his ‘attosecond streaking trace’ running shoes, a gift initiated by the FRIS team and presented to him earlier this year during the attoworld retreat in South Tyrol. This moment undoubtedly marked the emotional highlight of his speech. The shoes brought him a joy he described as akin to the kind he had last experienced as a child. He emphasized that these shoes hold a unique significance, comparable in their own way to the Nobel Prize medal from Stockholm. For him, they symbolize not only ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking but also the professional realization of bold ideas.
After dinner, musical performances sparked enthusiastic applause. Marco Dassi captivated and moved the audience with classical guitar pieces, creating an atmosphere of absolute silence. Later, in a duo with Dmitrii Kormin, the music took on a more rock-inspired tone. It’s always fascinating to witness the diverse talents of our scientists.
The evening concluded with engaging conversations, before everyone gradually made their way home through the chilly December night.
