News from the Library: A Poet in the Laboratory, meet the Author Beatrice Bressan
Beatrice Bressan, outreach coordinator of the TOTEM experiment, will present her poetry book "The Origin". The presentation will be followed by a reading of her poems.
“Ancient stargazers interpreted comets and eclipses as omens of doom. They all sought insights into the mystery of The Origin, seeking answers to eternal questions such as: Why are we here? What is the meaning of it all?” This is what Arthur I. Miller, emeritus professor of History and Philosophy of Science at University College London, says in the preface to "The Origin". This book has been created for the homonymous itinerant exhibition, The Origin: A Journey between Science and Art, which started its tour last year in Frascati (Rome) and will soon be in Geneva. The exhibition has been realized by the non-profit association Nairucu Arts with the support of different institutions, including CERN. It's aim is to create an Art School at Rapale (Nampula) in Northern Mozambique. Beatrice is one of the several artists and scientists who decided to support this goal through their voluntary contribution.
Like the exhibition, this book is composed of three sections: from the origin of the Universe, to the origin of humankind and the origin in art and myths. It represents an example of how creative thinking belongs to many domains and goes towards a multidisciplinary approach.
“By the 20th century the task of understanding the heavens had become quite a bit more complicated. (…) With help from Einstein's relativity theory and quantum physics, scientists began to understand how stars were born, lived and died.” Miller continues: “But we must look beyond physics in order to understand the aesthetics of the heavens as well as that most human of attributes: consciousness. This is what Bressan means when she writes of the need to feel the vibrations of the Universe. (…) We have to enlarge our scientific world-picture to include physics, biology, psychology and cognitive science, along with not-yet-imagined branches of knowledge.”
| About the author: Beatrice Bressan, born in Rome in 1967, is a member of EUSJA (European Union of Science Journalists’ Associations). After a degree in Mathematical Physics (La Sapienza University, Rome) and a Masters in Science Communication (ISAS, International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste), she completed a Ph.D. in Knowledge Management and Technology Transfer for the Department of Physical Sciences at Helsinki University within the research programmes at CERN. She has worked several years in these areas as a researcher, writer and head of communications. "The Origin", by Beatrice Bressan will be presented on Tuesday, 8 March 2011 at 4.00 p.m. in the CERN Library (Bldg. 52 1-052). Tea and coffee will be served. |
by CERN Library
