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Rose-Hulman
Brings Science & Humanities Together To Celebrate 100th Anniversary of
Physics
Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology used the occasion of the 100th anniversary of physics to show
that science and the humanities have one thing in common: The study of
humanity.
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Painting Unveiled: Terre Haute
artist Peter Bruning stands alongside the specially commissioned
painting, "Physics Minds of the 20th Century," which hangs
over the east entranceway of Moench Hall on the Rose-Hulman
campus. The painting depicts an imaginary meeting of famous
physicists
Niels Bohr, Madam Currie, Albert Einstein and Max Planck. |
The college celebrated the
birth of the age of modern physics, as signified by Albert Einstein's
1905 paper on special relativity, by unveiling a specially-commissioned
painting featuring four Nobel Prize winning physicists, announcing a
poetry contest, and hosting a reception for the campus and Terre Haute
community.
Art Western, Rose-Hulman's
vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty, saluted the
effort to meld the physical sciences and humanities.
"I find it most delightful
and reassuring that at Rose-Hulman the divide between humanities and
technology is being bridged constantly as faculty, staff and students
unite to explore the complex boundaries between what is possible and
what is desirable, between doing good science and living the good life,"
Western told persons attending the reception. Before becoming a dean,
Western was chair of Rose-Hulman's Department of Physics and Optical
Engineering.
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Literature About Scientific
Discovery: Persons attending a reception celebrating the 100th
anniversary of modern physics had the opportunity to view a
display of poetry
and short stories about Albert Einstein
and the physical sciences. |
Examples of how the
boundaries of science and humanities are explored at Rose-Hulman include
a course on the history of the atomic bomb, taught by physics and
optical engineering professor Rob Bunch and history professor William
Pickett; a course on the history of computing, taught by Department of
Computer Science and Software Engineering Chair Cary Laxer and Pickett;
and last year's international symposium, hosted at Rose-Hulman, that
celebrated the 10th anniversary of the world wide web.
"We are here to celebrate
another such coming together: This time to celebrate 100 years of modern
physics. In doing so, we recognize the importance of the arts and social
sciences in clarifying the meaning of those years to humankind," Western
announced at the reception. "I congratulate the Physics Department and
the Humanities and Social Sciences Department for reminding us, that,
although there may be two cultures, there is but one humanity."
The 7 foot-by-6 foot
painting "Physics Minds of the 20th Century," specially created by Terre
Haute artist Peter Bruning, hangs over the east entranceway of Moench
Hall. It depicts an imaginary meeting of famous physicists Niels Bohr
(atomic structure and quantum mechanics), Marie Curie (discovery of
radioactivity), Max Planck (discovery of energy quanta), and Einstein
discussing scientific issues at a table. The painting was commissioned
by the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering, Department of
Humanities and Social Sciences, and Art Curator Matthew McNichols.
The humanities department
is also organizing a poetry contest on scientific topics. There will be
separate divisions for entries from the campus and Terre Haute
community. Contest details will be released in the near future,
according to Caroline Carvill, chair of the humanities and social
sciences department. |
