An illustrated talk by Sandy Caldwell.
25th January 2024 at 19:15 at Fountainhall Church Centre (formerly Rubislaw Church Centre), 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB
Who was Enrico Fermi? Why did he move to the USA? How did he win a Nobel Prize?
Who were ‘I ragazzi di Via Panisperna’?
If you don’t know the answers you should attend our entertaining and educational talk to learn more about ‘the boys’ and their work.
Following confirmation of the existence of the neutron in 1932, Fermi and his group at La Sapienza, Rome, dedicated themselves to the generation of neutrons and to their use in producing nuclear reactions, leading to the discovery of nuclear fission. This is the basis of the nuclear reactor, and of its much more sinister relative, the nuclear bomb.
The group formed, worked and subsequently dispersed during Mussolini’s fascist reign. The talk will attempt to outline the basic physics done, and the effect on the group of the political climate in Italy in the 1930s. Several members of the group had strong Jewish roots or connections.
A simple, brief background account of the relevant physics is thought to be necessary. Apologies to those who are familiar with nuclear physics of the 1930s and 40s.
Sandy Caldwell
After several years spent working in nuclear medicine in the Medical Physics Department of AU, Sandy then taught physics in Peterhead Academy, finally becoming Principal Teacher of Physics at Mintlaw Academy, from where he retired in 2009.
His interest in the subject continues, as he contributes to a CPD day for teachers of physics aimed at assisting with delivery of practical work at AH level. Also, he is a member of the IOP and this helps in keeping up with the latest developments.
Study of Italy, and Italian spoken and written, is his major pastime, among several others.
Aberdeen Italian Circle 