Beginning Monday, Sept. 5, Duke professors of mathematics and physics will devote a week to explaining Albert Einstein's discoveries, their relevance to everyday life and their place in contemporary science. Duke's "Einstein Week" -- a series of talks, informal discussions and a student competition -- comes 100 years after the scientist's famous burst of publications in 1905.
"The originality, depth and natural beauty of Einstein's Relativity Theory are an intellectual tour de force," said Arlie Petters, organizer of Einstein Week and a Duke professor of mathematics and physics. "The talks will explore the geometry and physics of relativity, as well as anecdotes and facts in the history of the subject."
In a contest on Saturday, Sept. 10, in 120 Physics Building, undergraduate students will grapple with problems involving Einstein's Relativity Theory. The winner will receive $1,000, second place $500 and third $250.
"Einstein Week" is part of a larger semester-long series of events at Duke, which, in turn, is part of "World Year of Physics 2005." World Year of Physics 2005 is a United Nations endorsed international celebration of physics, highlighting the vitality of the discipline and its importance in the coming millennium.
All other Einstein Week events are free and open to the public:
-- "The Geometry of Spacetime," talk by Duke mathematics professor Robert Bryant, Mon., Sept. 5, 4:15-4:50 p.m., 120 Physics
-- "Light Bending by the Sun and Black Holes," talk by Duke professor of mathematics and physics Arlie Petters, Mon., Sept. 5, 4:50-5:30 p.m., 120 Physics
-- "Time Dilation and Particles," talk by Duke assistant professor of physics Kate Scholberg, Tues., Sept. 6, 4:30-5 p.m., 120 Physics
-- "The Search for a Unified Field Theory," talk by Duke associate professor of physics Ronen Plesser, Tues., Sept. 6, 5-5:30 p.m., 120 Physics
-- "Anecdotes, Facts, Opinions and Some History of the Theory of Relativity," talk by University of Pittsburgh professor of physics and astronomy Ezra Newman, Wed., Sept. 7, 4:45-5:45 p.m., 113 Physics