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.

Only an Axe Away

The Silent Valley in the Western Ghats is a Pristine Stretch of tropical rain forest in Kerala and is one of the most bio-diverse places on the earth. In the 1970 and 1980s, plans to construct a dam across the Kunthi river, proposed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) sparked a fierce debate about the future of this unique ecosystem. A monumental campaign led by environmentalists, scientists, teachers, students and local communities succeeded at the end and the Silent Valley Rainforest was declared as a national park in 1984.

The Cure

Robert James Smith (1959) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and the Co-founder of the band The Cure. The Cure is a British Post punk rock band formed in 1976 by Robert Smith and drummer Laurane Tolhurst. Robert Smith is distinguished for his pale complexion,  Smeared red lipstick, sooty eye-liner, tangled black hair and dressed in baggy black cloths. The Songs by The Cure band carry different shades and explore different genres of music ranging from Gothic rock to New Wave Pop music,  'Disintegration' released in 1989 is their highest charting album till date.

RELATIVITY - SARAH HOWE

 

Sarah Howe is a Chinese-British poet who has won T.S. Eliot prize for her poetry collection 'Loop of Jade' in 2015. Her ability to blend personal reflections with broader cultural and historical contexts has established Sarah Howe as a significant voice in contemporary poetry.  In 'Relativity', Sarah Howe explores the mysteries of the Universe fusing scientific concepts with poetic imagination.  Moreover, Hawking recited 'Relativity' in a short film created by the artist Bridget smith.  The poem 'Relativity' makes the readers explore the dark secrets or mysteries of space, time and light and so it helps humans find strength in symbiosis, the interconnectedness of all beings.

THE FOURTH STATE OF MATTER - JO ANN BEARD

https://youtu.be/VkNIMtLUAG8

Jo Ann Beard (B 1955) is an  American Creative nonfiction writer, essayist, journalist and novelist. When she was working as an editor for the space-physics department's monthly publication in the University of  Iowa, the 1991 shooting massacre took place there. Her 'Fourth State of Matter'  that was published in ‘The New Yorker' in 1996, focuses on her grief, loss and shock of that incident. It also probes and investigates the violent shooting perpetrated by Gang Lu, a physics student, against five colleagues. Before he committed suicide. 

The Red Room - H. G. Wells

 

https://youtu.be/cmHIrTkgZ-Q

Herbert George Wells (1866-1946), the 'Father of Science Fiction' was a celebrated English writer.  'The Time Machine' (1895), 'The War of the World' (1898) and 'The Invisible Man' (1897) of him depict futuristic ideas like time travel, invisibility and alien invasion.  His short story 'The Red Room', is a gothic story that explores the themes of fear, superstition and the power of mind.  It also stresses the need for developing rational beliefs and scientific temperament.

C.V. Raman as a Science Communicator : A Historical Perspective - G.V. Pavan Kumar

https://youtu.be/-VR5CV2oOcQ

Sir Chandra Sekhara Venkata Raman was one of India's most renowned scientists and Nobel Prize winner.  Moreover, he was an outstanding educator and a captivating public speaker.  Here, in "C.V. Raman as a science communicator : A historical Perspective," G. V. Pavan Kumar, the prominent physicist, explains how Raman's strong dedication to research. Apart from this, he also explores Raman's initiatives to popularize science and make it more exciting through his effective public talks and lectures.

A Day in the Country - Anton Chekhov

 

https://youtu.be/2HV076qTApg

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) was a renowned Russian dramatist and short story writer.  It was his profound knowledge of human nature and his unique depictions of ordinary life placed him among the great writers.  Actually, Chekhov was a physician by profession.  His well known plays are 'The Seagull' (1896), 'Uncle Vanya' (1897), and 'The Cherry Orchard' (1904).  His most popular short stories are 'The Bet', 'The Lady with a Dog' and 'The Complaints Book'.  In 'A Day in the Country' Chekhov depicts the link between people and their environment in an excellent way.  Though the incidents seem to be ordinary, they are of incredibly insightful experiences in every way.

The Peace of Wild Things - Wendell Berry

 

 

https://youtu.be/tCyCp-xO2Is

Wendell Berry (B.1934) is a renowned writer, committed farmer and environmental Advocate from the United States.  He has authored over 50 books and won T. S. Eliot prize and the National Humanities Medal.  he is of the opinion that humanity must learn to live in harmony with the earth's natural rhythm.  In the poem, "The Peace of Wild Things", he shares a personal journey of finding solace in nature's embrace.

Light on a Dark Lady - Anne Piper

 

https://youtu.be/nxbhWYS0uXI

Roasalind Franklin (1920-1958), who had an untimely death due to cancer in 1958, a forgotten heroine, 'The dark lady of DNA'in the history of science, was a British chemist and an X-ray crystallographer.  She had her substantial contributions to the understanding of the molecular structure of 'DNA (deoxyribonucleic Acid), RNA (Ribonucleic Acid), viruses, coal and graphite.  Anne Piper, a close friend of Rosalind Franklin  and a renowned intellectual, talks about the gender bias that affected Rosalind Franklin's work and recognition in 'Light on a dark lady', especially, how her contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA were totally unrecognized during her life in the male dominated field.

Science and Dogma - Pushpa. M. Bhargava

 

https://youtu.be/dBAIbZ-_ze4

Dr. Pushpa Mittra Bhargava (1928-2017) who was a visionary, scientist, writer, thinker, institution builder and a strong proponent of scientific temper, was actually a fearless torch bearer of  rationalism and humanism. He was the founder director of Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. 'Science and Dogma' is an essay by Pushpa. M. Bhargava, featured as the twelfth chapter in the book 'Angels, Devils and Science'.  In this essay, Bhargava highlights the conflict between Scientific understanding and dogmatic beliefs, and talks about the need of questioning the dogmatic beliefs and accepting the scientific understanding for the true progress.

The dangers of climate change - Carl Sagan

 

https://youtu.be/TCb4wJ6QoVo

Carl Edward Sagan (1934-1996) was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. His notable works are Cosmos (1994).  'The dangers of climate change', is an excerpt taken from the fourth chapter of 'Cosmos', his famous book with a fine blend of science and Philosophy.  Here, he discusses how both natural and human activities have shaped and will continue to shape the Earth's environment.

Secularism and Scientific Temper - Dr. Pushpa M Bhargava

 

https://youtu.be/vrCCSuwrpPQ