CfP: Fourth International Conference on the History of Physics
This conference is the fourth in the series
following the first three, which were held at Trinity College,
Cambridge UK in 2014, Pöllau, Austria in 2016 and San Sebastian, Spain
in 2018. It will be the first to be formally overseen by an
International Advisory Committee which is recognised by the Institute of
Physics and the European Physical Society.*
The aim is to bring together physicists
interested in the history of their subject and professional historians
of science in the belief that proponents of the two disciplines, with
their different perceptions and methodologies, can benefit from
interaction and discourse.
Student attendance and participation will
be encouraged in the firm belief that a study of the history of the
subject can inspire future generations by informing them about the lives
and work of great scientists, and also facilitate a better
understanding of topics that present conceptual problems today just as
they did to their discoverers.
Inspired by the recent centenary of two
major landmarks in modern physics - nomination of the proton as a
fundamental nuclear particle and discovery of the bending of light in a
gravitational field - the leading theme of the present conference will
be:
‘On the Road to Modern Physics’
Presentations on the history of particle
physics, general relativity, cosmology and astrophysics will be
particularly welcome. However, papers on any topic related to physics history will be considered for inclusion.
We are very fortunate in having the
conference venue at Trinity College Dublin. Many significant figures in
the history of physics have been associated with Trinity. Richard
Helsham wrote the first undergraduate textbook, published in 1739, on
Newton’s natural philosophy: for an account of those who followed, Eric
Finch’s “Three Centuries of Physics at Trinity College Dublin” is to be
recommended.
* For further details of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) please see: hop.iopconfs.org/