Prof. Werner Nahm (Director, School of Theoretical Physics) delivered this public lecture on Thursday 3rd December in the National Gallery of Ireland.
This was part of a programme of special lectures celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Foundation of DIAS.
Abstract:
For 75 years DIAS has been a good place to study questions which involve both culture and science. One example is the dating of Newgrange based on changes of the rotation axis of the earth. Ireland was not yet celtic at the time when the monument was built and there is much to learn about the changes which happened in the subsequent centuries. Palaeogenetics and linguistics, archaeology, history and several branches of geophysics have to work together to understand the roles of migrations, climate change, expansions, devastations and recoveries. They shaped our genes, language and culture and will again shape them in the future. With its focus on astronomy,
celtic studies and physics, DIAS can cover part of the necessary research, but it should not remain alone.
About Professor Werner Nahm:
Professor Nahm is a Senior Professor and Director of the School of Theoretical Physics at DIAS. He was awarded the RIA Gold Medal for Science earlier this year. He is a member of the Royal Society since 2011 and in 2012 he was awarded the Gothenburg Lise Meitner prize. This nomination referred to Professor Nahm’s important pioneering work on supersymmetry and on magnetic monopoles. Professor Nahm received the Max Planck Medal for his fundamental work on quantum field theory. In particular, he was able to clarify several basic mathematical aspects that later became important for the development of string theory. Nahm frequently exploits his vast knowledge and understanding to achieve progress in a wide range of subjects, including ancient Mayan history and writing. In 2013, he published a study that appears to have solved a 100-year-old problem, namely calculating the dates for the great Mesopotamian rulers in the 2nd millenium BC. This interdisciplinary work combines the study of Venus observations, tree- ring data and the dates for historical solar eclipses, with that of cuneiform documents, in particular concerning the sequence of Assyrian year eponyms.
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Last Updated: 23rd May 2018 by mary
3rd December 2015 – DIAS lecture “Celts in the Cosmos”
Prof. Werner Nahm (Director, School of Theoretical Physics) delivered this public lecture on Thursday 3rd December in the National Gallery of Ireland.
This was part of a programme of special lectures celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Foundation of DIAS.
Abstract:
For 75 years DIAS has been a good place to study questions which involve both culture and science. One example is the dating of Newgrange based on changes of the rotation axis of the earth. Ireland was not yet celtic at the time when the monument was built and there is much to learn about the changes which happened in the subsequent centuries. Palaeogenetics and linguistics, archaeology, history and several branches of geophysics have to work together to understand the roles of migrations, climate change, expansions, devastations and recoveries. They shaped our genes, language and culture and will again shape them in the future. With its focus on astronomy, celtic studies and physics, DIAS can cover part of the necessary research, but it should not remain alone.
About Professor Werner Nahm:
Professor Nahm is a Senior Professor and Director of the School of Theoretical Physics at DIAS. He was awarded the RIA Gold Medal for Science earlier this year. He is a member of the Royal Society since 2011 and in 2012 he was awarded the Gothenburg Lise Meitner prize. This nomination referred to Professor Nahm’s important pioneering work on supersymmetry and on magnetic monopoles. Professor Nahm received the Max Planck Medal for his fundamental work on quantum field theory. In particular, he was able to clarify several basic mathematical aspects that later became important for the development of string theory. Nahm frequently exploits his vast knowledge and understanding to achieve progress in a wide range of subjects, including ancient Mayan history and writing. In 2013, he published a study that appears to have solved a 100-year-old problem, namely calculating the dates for the great Mesopotamian rulers in the 2nd millenium BC. This interdisciplinary work combines the study of Venus observations, tree- ring data and the dates for historical solar eclipses, with that of cuneiform documents, in particular concerning the sequence of Assyrian year eponyms.
Category: News
Available to buy on the DIAS bookshop: books.dias.ie/index.php?main… (5/5) #DIASdiscovers #celtic #studies #twopatricks
"In the lives of St. Patrick, the two saints are invariably fused into one", said Prof. O'Rahilly in his lecture. The lecture was a condensation from O’Rahilly’s book “The two Patricks: a lecture on the history of Christianity in fifth-century Ireland”. (4/5)
He was known by his first name Patricius, which in later times would lead to confusion as he was succeeded by another apostle of the same name (Saint Patrick or Patricius in Latin). (3/5)
He spoke on "Palladius and Patrick". Palladius was the first bishop of the Christians of Ireland. (2/5)
Date: 21st March 1942 Paper: The Irish Press Headline: Palladius and Patrick | School Of Celtic Studies Lecture Synopsis: The first public lecture under the auspices of the School of Celtic Studies was delivered in Trinity College by Professor T. F. O'Rahilly in 1942. (1/5)
As part of our ongoing participation in the @HistFest we decided to take a look into the Irish Newspaper Archives and see where DIAS made it into print over the last 80 years. There were so many articles, the hardest part was selecting what we would post. We hope you enjoy!
@AReillyFailte @CultureNight @VisitDublin Thanks Antoinette! Glad you enjoyed 😊
Big thank you to @MartinaPQuinn of @helloalicepr for moderating the discussion, and of course to our panel @NeasaMcG @CormacORafferty and @laoneill111
@CormacORafferty "to cut yourself off from fundamental research means you could miss out on some of the biggest ideas"
@laoneill "it's our job as researchers to keep reminding governments how important basic research is" "For Dev basic research being carried out in Ireland was a badge of pride"
@NeasaMcG Schrödinger's work in causality was not well received by the religious authorities at the time At the same time DIAS did have Catholic priests working on research projects in the early days, so there was not the conflict you might think between science and religion
@laoneill111 Schrödinger was very popular in social circles in Dublin, a bit of a renaissance man
@CormacORafferty Schrödinger was gifted at explaining difficult concepts
@CormacORafferty on how unsuccessful work, in Schrödinger's case, unified field theory, is just as important part of science. And no one has managed to crack it yet! And not forgetting the cat
@laoneill111 how Schrödinger's book inspired scientists to change fields and result in the finding of the double helix.
@NeasaMcG explaining how DIAS came about and how Schrödinger was attracted to Ireland #DIASdiscovers
Panel Discussion getting underway! @laoneill111 @CormacORafferty @NeasaMcG @MartinaPQuinn
We're half way through the documentary... Join us for the rest and the fascinating discussion to follow DM for link