The quoted statement reflects a personal sentiment about leaving one's home country due to professional aspirations. It conveys the idea that relocating from England to the United States was a difficult choice but ultimately necessary because the research environment for theoretical chemistry was more favorable in America at the time.
At a deeper level, this quote highlights the complex interplay between individual career goals and broader institutional factors. The speaker acknowledges the emotional attachment one has to their homeland while also recognizing that advancing in certain fields might require moving to places with better resources or opportunities. This duality captures the challenges many researchers face when deciding where to pursue their professional endeavors. It underscores the importance of not only personal satisfaction but also the external conditions necessary for success in academic and scientific careers.
John Pople was a renowned British-American theoretical chemist who made significant contributions to quantum chemistry, particularly in computational methods used to solve chemical problems. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1998 for his work on computational methods in quantum chemistry. His decision to move from England to the United States illustrates the global nature of scientific research and the impact that relocating can have on one's career trajectory.
