Early Education
In Argentina, I attended a school founded by Jesuits in the 1500s – the same one my father attended. It was a strict institution, almost military in its discipline. We stood when teachers entered, learned Greek and Latin, and memorized lengthy French poems. The humanistic education I received there, though rigorous, laid the foundation for how I think about problems in broad contexts today.
The Path to Physics
I grew up in a well-to-do family, which gave me the freedom to pursue my interests without worrying about making a living. While my family wanted me to join the family law practice, a teacher introduced me to physics when I was 13 or 14. The subject gave me a profound sense of order during my tumultuous adolescent years. In physics, I found truth and certainty – a touchstone amidst the chaos of growing up.
Musical Influence
Classical music has been a constant companion throughout my life. Though our family isn't particularly musical (despite sharing a surname with the famous violinist Bronislav Huberman, to whom we're unfortunately not related), music has provided an emotional resonance that parallels my scientific work. It's been both background noise and a subject of careful study.
Political Climate
Growing up in Buenos Aires during the Peron dictatorship meant living under oppression. We had to be careful about what we said, even in our own home. My grandfather was once denied entry to the United States because he refused to join the Peronist party and was wrongly labeled a communist. The regime, modeled after Mussolini's fascism, created an environment where science was viewed as a cultural luxury rather than a practical necessity.
The Decision
Despite my father's pragmatic wishes for me to pursue law or engineering, I chose physics after a personal crisis. At university, I studied both experimental and theoretical physics, excelling particularly in advanced mathematics. While I wasn't a mathematical prodigy, I developed a strong intuition for physics that would shape my entire career.