Celebrating centenary of Einstein's miracles
The World Year of Physics (WYP) 2005 is of course an endeavour by physicists, scientists and others across the world whose aim is to raise awareness of physics amongst the public in general and bring forth the tremendous contribution of physics to our everyday life in particular. One of the best ways to do so is to highlight its impact in science and technology through holding seminars, scientific discussions, displays and rallies etc. The Year should be the occasion to begin debates on the great need for scientific research in the twenty-first century. These should also address the various social issues as well as ethical questions. The Year should also encourage women to more actively participate in its advancement. While trying to focus on the contributions of physics let us also not forget to honour and understand the man Einstein.
Einstein's childhood years
Albert Einstein was born to a middle-class Garman Jewish family in 1879. He was a very quiet child and hardly talked until he was about three years old which led some to believe that he was a backward child. Einstein quit school at age fifteen, fed up with the strict academic disciplines and rote learning. He was so disgusted with school that for the next six months he wandered around doing nothing. Geometry, however, fascinated him. The next year (1895) he enrolled into the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. For the next five years he worked very hard in the laboratories but skipping lectures, and graduated with an ordinary degree. The next two years he did various odd jobs until finally he got a post as a patent examiner.
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Einstein wrote three fundamental papers in a matter of few months (1905) that shot him into prominence and brought him instant fame. The first of which proposed that light under certain circumstances behaved like particles with discrete energies called quanta. The second of which gave an explanation to the Brownian motion in terms of the theory of heat. The third paper, by far the most famous of them all, addressed the connection of electromagnetic theory and ordinary motion propounded in what is known as 'special theory of relativity'. Einstein during the course of those works is believed to have said I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.
In 1909 Einstein became an assistant professor at the University of Zurich. In 1911 he moved to the German University of Prague and the following year was appointed a Professor of Physics at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. In order to devote completely to research, Einstein left his teaching job and moved to Berlin. In the meantime Einstein completed his work on 'General Theory of Relativity' that gave new understanding to space and time, and gravity. Confirmation of his theory came in 1918, when British astronomers confirmed the bending of starlight by gravity exactly as Einstein predicted.
Einstein received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1924 for his work on the quantum theory of light. He traveled extensively during this period also supporting various pacifist and progressive parties. Meanwhile his scientific work continued in ways to unify electromagnetism and gravity. In 1929 he propounded the unified field theory but the mathematics could not be compared to experiments and so the search for a useful theory had just begun. Unable to compromise with the then Nazi rulers Einstein migrated to the United States in 1933 and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Einstein became a US citizen in 1940.
The final days
Einstein was asked to become the second President of the State of Israel, but declined. He was supporting many causes, such as the United Nations, Nuclear Disarmament, and Civil Liberties etc. The search for a true unified field theory for a more profound understanding of nature continued to fill Einstein's days. While corresponding about a new anti-war project and writing a speech for Israel he was taken ill and died in 1955.
WYP in Bangladesh
Physics departments all over the country, science museums, laboratories, science teachers and others can plan and organise events that raise awareness of physics and science in their communities.
On the national scale, however, the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology has kindly consented to be joint organiser for all the events of the Bangladesh Physical Society in celebrating the World Year of Physics 2005. The activities that have been planned include the following, among others :
*Regional Physics Conference : The Inauguration will be held at the Auditorium of Shishu Academy, Dhaka, while the Technical Sessions will be held at the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka. BPS also plans to hold a rally, starting immediately after the inauguration from Curzon Hall and terminate at the Teacher Student Centre of Dhaka University (date to be announced).
*One day Seminar in Chittagong University : It will be on the theme "Physics and Nature" where natural calamities (like the recent Tsunami in Asia) will be discussed.
*One day Seminar at Jahangirnagar University : It will be on "Physics and Society" highlighting the contributions of Physics to contemporary society.
*One day Seminar in Dhaka : It will be on improving the education in Physics at the pre-university and university levels. BPS plans to involve the Physics Teachers' Association in the Seminar.
*One day Seminar on employment of Physics graduates in collaboration with the employers (FBCCI will be requested to participate).
*Physics Olympiad.
*Bose Memorial Lecture.
The aim of World Year of Physics should go much beyond the mere celebration of one of the greatest minds in physics, but should also provide an opportunity for the largest possible audiences to acknowledge the progress and importance of the great field of science.
Dr. Mohammed Muniruzzaman is Professor of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and Vice-President, Bangladesh Physical Society.