Omar Yaghi, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and son of Palestinian refugees, was born in Jordan and left at age 15 for the United States with all the family's savings. The researcher and professor built his academic career in America until July, having won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry a year ago, together with two colleagues.
His childhood was marked by difficult conditions, and education represented the only escape route for the family. Yaghi describes leaving for the United States as a significant economic sacrifice by his parents.
Recently, Omar Yaghi switched from America to China, considering that the Asian country offers more attractive opportunities for his research work. This move represents a significant change in the scientist's professional trajectory.
The Palestinian-Jordanian chemist spoke to Expresso about various topics, from his humble childhood to the "artificial intelligence revolution," which he says he is "fully embracing" in his current work.
