Gino Segrè and Bettina Hoerlin, The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age

December 7, 2016

Gino Segrè is Professor of Physics Emeritus. In addition to Penn, he has taught at M.I.T. and Oxford, and was Director of Theoretical Physics at the National Science Foundation. Bettina Hoerlin served as Health Commissioner of Philadelphia, and has taught at Penn, Haverford College and Oxford.

Enrico Fermi is unquestionably among the greats of the world’s physicists, the most famous Italian scientist since Galileo. Called the Pope by his peers, he was regarded as infallible in his instincts and research. His discoveries changed our world; they led to weapons of mass destruction and conversely to life-saving medical interventions. This unassuming man struggled with issues relevant today, such as the threat of nuclear annihilation and the relationship of science to politics. Fleeing Fascism and anti-Semitism, Fermi became a leading figure in America’s most secret project: building the atomic bomb. The last physicist who mastered all branches of the discipline, Fermi was a rare mixture of theorist and experimentalist. His rich legacy encompasses key advances in fields as diverse as cosmic rays, nuclear technology, and early computers.

Signed copies of their book, The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age, will be available for purchase following the talk.

Due to large attendance the lecture has been moved to the WOODLANDS BALLROOM A on the registration desk floor of The Inn At Penn, 3600 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA. Lunch will not be available during the lecture. The University Club buffet is open until 2 pm.