Andre Geim, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist celebrated for his groundbreaking work in graphene, has recently had his Dutch citizenship revoked due to the Netherlands' stringent regulations against dual citizenship. Geim, who accepted British citizenship thirteen years ago to receive a knighthood, has now been informed he must surrender his Dutch passport or face legal repercussions.
In an email statement, Geim shared his sentiment of being "extremely annoyed," reflecting on the bittersweet nature of this decision and expressing a deep connection to both the Netherlands and the UK, stating, “I consider myself a Dutch-British Nobel Prize winner.”
Born in Russia in 1958 to German parents, Geim moved to the Netherlands in the 1990s for his academic career at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He later moved to England, where he continued his research alongside Konstantin Novoselov, the pair being awarded the Physics Nobel Prize in 2010 for their pioneering experiments in graphene.
Geim’s situation raises questions about the implications of national laws on individuals who contribute significantly to global scientific communities. His experience reflects the complexities faced by many professionals balancing multiple national identities and the rigidity of immigration laws that can dictate personal and professional trajectories.
In an email statement, Geim shared his sentiment of being "extremely annoyed," reflecting on the bittersweet nature of this decision and expressing a deep connection to both the Netherlands and the UK, stating, “I consider myself a Dutch-British Nobel Prize winner.”
Born in Russia in 1958 to German parents, Geim moved to the Netherlands in the 1990s for his academic career at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He later moved to England, where he continued his research alongside Konstantin Novoselov, the pair being awarded the Physics Nobel Prize in 2010 for their pioneering experiments in graphene.
Geim’s situation raises questions about the implications of national laws on individuals who contribute significantly to global scientific communities. His experience reflects the complexities faced by many professionals balancing multiple national identities and the rigidity of immigration laws that can dictate personal and professional trajectories.
