Keeping things open

This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the papers by Niels Bohr introducing the atomic model that dominated twentieth century physics. Niels Bohr himself remained an influential participant in the development for almost 50 years, and his institute became a magnet for young researchers and an important center for the development of modern physics.

From both a personal and a scientific perspective – being both a grandson of Niels Bohr and a physicist – I shall try to assess some of the characteristics of Bohr’s personality and his approach to science that made this possible.