Sunday, 16 March 2025

Module II Wonders of Science: Albert Einstein's 1930 Berlin Speech

 

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German born theoretical Physicist, who is best known for his theory of Relativity and for his mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc². For his great services to theoretical physics, he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. He delivered a speech on August 22, 1930 in Berlin, at the opening of the Seventh German Radio Exhibition. Apart from emphasizing the importance of recognizing the collaborative nature of Scientific and technological advancement, he reminded the audience not to forget the countless Individuals who contributed to the development of radio technology.

Einstein's Speech provides insight into his views on the relationship between Science, technology and society. He talks about the importance of Scientific inquiry in shaping the World. All the technological wonders have their roots in the 'divine curiosity' and 'Play instinct' of the inventors. He mentions the glorious contributions of Oersted, who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields and Reis, who pioneered in transmitting voice via electric signals. Similarly the telephone of Bell, the electromagnetism  theory of Maxwell and radio waves that discovered by Hertz are all mentioned here. They are all for the well being of humans. He also hails the engineers for their contributions to  democracy in their making the daily work easy. Here he also points out that people should feel  shame if they use wonders of science as if they were cows that eat with pleasure without realizing the "Botany of the plants they eat.

Einstein makes all think gratefully the unknown engineers who have simplified the instruments of communication via Radio and have adapted them to mass production in such a way that they have become ready to be used by everybody nowadays. Thus Einstein's speech become a powerful reminder of the link between science and society. It also highlights the generative power of scientific inquiry and the importance of fostering a culture of critical thinking and ethical responsibility.

https://youtu.be/bm2Q-weKEtk


------Thulasidharan V

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