Science and the Stage
September 3, 10, 17, 24
The 2009-10 series opens with a special Thursday Forum version of an actual Coe class. Theatre Professor Dennis Barnett and Physics Professor Steve Feller will adapt for the forum "Science and the Stage," their popular course for first year students.
The lectures will focus on four plays that concern science: "Galileo" by Bertolt Brecht, "Breaking the Code" by Hugh Whitemore, "Copenhagen" by Michael Frayn and "Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard.
"Galileo" explores the edge between the Catholic Church ofthe early 17th century and the rise of modern science throughthe complex tragedy of Galileo. This play helps us reflect on the tension between religion and science which is still withus today.
"Breaking the Code" is about the social attitudes toward genius and sexuality at work in the true story of mathematician Alan Turing and the breaking of the Enigma code at Bletchley Park, north of London. Feller will give a virtual tour of Bletchley Park based on his visit in 2006.
"Copenhagen" centers on a meeting in 1941 between two great physicists, Niels Bohr and his student, Werner Heisenberg. Bohr came away from that meeting thinking that the Germans were working on developing an atomic weapon. Heisenberg, equally confused, came away thinking that Bohr might help the Allies develop their own weapon. Frayn's version of what actually happened creates a fascinating parallel with Heisenberg's "Uncertainty Principle."
"Arcadia" is an exceedingly clever comedy about a variety of intersecting ideas, presenting its audience with insights about art, history, Newtonian determinism, Lord Byron, and fractals, in both content and form.
Each presentation will include Feller presenting an overview of the relevant science and Barnett discussing the theatrical aspects of each play. Scientific demonstrations and readings from the plays will be used.
Heather Lewis ‘09
"Once my freshman year, my roommate, Ali, and I were both friends with the same Japanese student, Naoko, and the three of us orchestrated a massive, in-door Capture-the-flag game."
