The University of Memphis Physics Department is celebrating the centennial publication of Albert Einstein's five papers, which changed the understanding of the universe, by hosting a variety of speakers and even an interpretational dance based purely on Einstein.
John Rigden, author and Washington University professor, will speak Sept. 28 in the Methodist Presentation Theater at the FedEx Institute of Technology at 7:00 p.m.
"We want to have a speaker who can bring the public knowledge to why Einstein was so important," said Donald Franceschetti, a U of M physics professor. "He (Rigden) is a famous author and a great speaker."
In Rigden's novel, "1905: The Standard of Greatness," he explains the importance of Einstein's discoveries and his prominence as a great scientist.
Einstein is most noted for his papers on Brownian motion and the photoelectric effect, which would later serve as a key to understanding quantum theory and the subatomic process.
Franceschetti said he hopes that even students who are not physics majors can appreciate Einstein and Rigden's presentation.
"Anyone interested at all in the history of ideas and sciences is encouraged to come," Franceschetti said.
Although biology major Teryne Davis said she might not know much about Einstein, the lectures offered this fall by the physics department could be interesting.
"I think he could possibly say something interesting and trigger me to change my major to physics," Davis said.
Further Einstein events scheduled at The U of M include a Nov. 10 lecture and book signing by Alan Lightman, the award-winning novelist, essayist, physicist and author of "Einstein's Dreams and The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th-
century Science."
To cap off the celebration of a hundred years of Einstein's discoveries, The U of M Department of Theater and Dance will stage an adaptation of "Einstein's Dream" through interpretational dance presented by Professor Gloria Baxter.
"Whenever science has come up with anything new, art has experimented with it. Einstein can be blamed for cubism to modern dance," Franceschetti said.
Physics expressed in interpretational dance is something freshman chemistry major Lauren McKnight is interested to see.
"I can't imagine anything to do with physics or Einstein in a dance routine," McKnight said. "Maybe it could help me really understand what Einstein was all about."
Understanding what Einstein is all about is the main goal for The U of M physics department and co-sponsors Sigma XI and Marcus W. Orr Center for Humanities.
"Students with any kind of interest in science would enjoy the events," Franceschetti said. "It would give them ties early to 20th science."
