Inspired by the Stars

The speaker shares their journey from growing up in Switzerland and Madagascar to pursuing a career in science. They describe the impact of living in a poor country and how it fueled their dream of studying science, particularly astronomy. Initially advised to study physics, they found a passion for fundamental physics over phenomenology. They explored planetology but shifted focus to more fundamental questions, inspired by black holes and the universe's mysteries.

What was the speaker's main source of inspiration during their teenage years in Madagascar?

• The beautiful landscapes

• The local culture and traditions

• The educational system

• The clear night skies and the Milky Way

Why did the speaker choose to study physics before astronomy?

• They were advised it was a better pathway to astronomy

• Physics was more popular at their university

• They had a personal preference for physics

• Astronomy was not offered at their university

What realization did the speaker have about planetology?

• It required a lot of numerical data analysis

• It involved too much fieldwork

• It was not as interesting as astronomy

• It was too theoretical

Which celestial phenomena inspired the speaker towards fundamental physics?

• Comets

• Supernovae

• Black holes

• Galaxies

What was the speaker's ultimate motivation in their study of the universe?

• To comprehend the universe as a whole

• To understand the formation of stars

• To explore the possibility of life on other planets

• To develop new technologies