Decoding Phase Transitions – the DPT Podcast || Ep.20 || Guest: Prof. Erio Tosatti 🇮🇹🇬🇧 Episode 20 of the DPT Podcast feels like a small milestone in the journey of this channel — and I cannot think of a more meaningful guest to mark it than Prof. Erio Tosatti. In this episode, I speak with Prof. Tosatti about his extraordinary journey through physics, mentorship, institution-building, and the deeper human values that shape scientific life. Prof. Tosatti is currently Professor Emeritus at SISSA and continues to be closely associated with ICTP in Trieste, where he has played a foundational role in building the condensed matter physics community. This conversation is not only about a distinguished scientific career. It is also about science as culture, mentorship as a human relationship, and the responsibility of building institutions that create opportunities for others. One of the central messages of this episode is beautifully captured in Prof. Tosatti’s words: “Either we fly together, or we do not fly at all.” Highlights from this Episode: ✨ Childhood, early life, and the lessons that shaped him ✨ Schooling in Modena and the role of logic, history, and culture ✨ Choosing a direction without knowing the full path ✨ Working while pursuing university studies ✨ Going to CERN, Geneva, as a summer student ✨ Transitioning from high-energy experimental physics to theory ✨ Discovering condensed matter physics at Pisa ✨ What great scientists do differently ✨ Working with and learning from scientific giants ✨ The importance of institution-building ✨ ICTP, SISSA, and building scientific communities ✨ Mentorship as a deeply human relationship ✨ Inclusion, duty, and creating opportunities for others ✨ Why science is culture before it is technicality ✨ Advice to young scientists and younger self 🎧 Listen to this podcast here: https://drsanandabiswas.podbean.com 🎙️ About The Guest: Prof. Erio Tosatti is one of the most distinguished theoretical condensed matter physicists of our time. He completed his degree in Physics at the University of Modena and received his doctorate from Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, where he worked in theoretical condensed matter physics under the supervision of Franco Bassani. He later carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge, where he worked with P. W. Anderson. His career also includes research positions with the Italian Research Council, CNR, at Rome University and Trieste University. He went on to become a full professor at SISSA and played a foundational role in building the Condensed Matter Theory communities at SISSA and ICTP in Trieste. His research spans a broad range of condensed matter physics, including theoretical condensed matter, surfaces, nanostructures, friction and nanofriction, strongly correlated systems, fullerides, high-pressure physics, and complex materials. 🎖️Major honours: Tate Medal for International Leadership in Physics, The Enrico Fermi Prize of the Italian Physical Society, Fellowship of the American Physical Society, Membership of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, foreign associateship of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, foreign membership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Spirit of Abdus Salam Award. Google Scholar : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=M_U7meIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Webpage : https://cm.sissa.it/people/erio-tosatti Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erio_Tosatti 🔗 Resources & Links: P. W. Anderson – “More Is Different”: https://www.tkm.kit.edu/downloads/TKM1_2011_more_is_different_PWA.pdf [Due to space limitations, we are unable to include links to all the people, places, institutions, and topics discussed in this episode.] 👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas (Host): YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd 🔔 If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 04:45 – Childhood Lessons That Shaped a Life in Science 10:22 – Schooling, Logic, History & Early Influences 18:13 – Early Life Challenges and Lessons in Resilience 25:31 – Choosing a Direction Without Knowing the Full Path 31:48 – Working While Studying at University 38:39 – Going to CERN as a Summer Student 44:59 – From High-Energy Experimental Physics to Theory 47:21 – Discovering Condensed Matter Physics at Pisa 56:46 – What Do Geniuses Do Differently? 59:53 – Research Interests Across Condensed Matter Physics 01:05:32 – Why Institution Building Matters in Science 01:15:22 – Mentorship as a Human Relationship 01:28:01 – What Separates Great Scientists from Others 01:34:39 – Fun Trivia with Prof. Erio Tosatti 01:53:12 – Advice to His Younger Self and Young Scientists 01:59:00 – Final Thoughts: Science, Community & Flying Together #DPTPodcast #PhysicsPodcast #SciencePodcast #STEMPodcast