“Einstein for Everyone” with Guest Speaker Dr. Robert Piccioni
Our next CCAS meeting is Thursday, October 28th, 2010 from 7-9 PM. Guest Speaker Dr. Robert Piccioni, who is an expert on Einstein and cosmology.
Speaker: Dr. Robert Piccioni (pronounced “Pitch-O-knee”)
Talk Title: “Einstein for Everyone”
Click here to download the flyer. (Feel free to post the info for others to view!)
Abstract: How did a young rebel, who seemed doomed to fail, overcome rejection to become the world’s most famous scientist? In plain English, what do his theories mean? And how does Einstein impact our lives through DVDs, GPS, CCD imaging and digital cameras, computers, and smarter energy?
Biography: Robert graduated from Caltech, has a Ph.D. in high-energy physics from Stanford University, and was on the research faculty of Harvard University. He is an expert on Einstein’s theories and cosmology. Robert ran eight high-tech companies and holds patents in medical equipment, microelectronics, and smart energy. Since “retiring”, Robert’s mission is making science accessible. He is “Teacher of the Year” at the Osher Institute and hosts the online radio show “Guide to the Cosmos”. Robert is the author of two books that won national and international competitions for “Best Popular Science Book of the Year”: Everyone’s Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe explores the exciting discoveries of modern astronomy, physics, and cosmology; and Can Life Be Merely An Accident? examines the many exacting requirements for life and how extraordinarily improbable it is that they occurred by random chance.
LOCATION: United Methodist Church at 1515 Fredericks in San Luis Obispo. Click here for a map.
CCAS meetings are free, friendly and informal. Members sometimes share photos and information on all kinds of subjects. Occasionally there are special guest speakers and presentations on events or activities in the area. We also partner with Cuesta College faculty and students, so there can be an interesting variation of discussion topics, sometimes very light in content and sometimes moderately heavy in technical information.
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. You do not need to be a CCAS member to attend meetings. Folks are welcome to bring astronomy equipment, books and photos to share with the group. We like to assist in answering questions or help with equipment operation techniques when needed, BUT we must first be aware of the situation. If you wish to bring a telescope or want to discuss the operation of your telescope, FIRST, please contact the CCAS to discuss this, as meetings are sometimes already booked solid with topics, or, there may not be anyone at the meeting who is knowledgeable of the item you need help with.
If you have questions about bringing something to a meeting, or wish to ask specific technical questions, or about meetings in general, just let us know.
I really enjoyed Dr. Piccioni’s presentation because for the most part it was couched in terms a layman could understand and was sprinkled with humor that kept it enjoyable as well as educating. The ony question I had (but did not ask) was How could a person with so little going for him (as Einstein had when he was a gov’t clerk 3d class) get scientists and physicists to give time and attention to his theories repudiating basic beliefs and standards. He stirred controversy when he could have been ignored as a lunatic. Why did they bother to look at the calculations of someone so unqualified to have any opinions of merit?
I came to your meeting with my friend Steve Kliewer, Director of Endeavour Institute. I had been up since 5AM, shooting (Photos) all day and was dead tired, but still had a great time. Dr. Piccioni has an excellent sense of humour and presented a good and interesting program. Of course, you Aurora got the ball rolling with your high octane energy and humour, so that was an excellent start. Thank you very much. I look forward to more such programs, as well as doing a Star Party. I hear there is one coming up in Yosemite. That would be fun.
It was really an engaging presentation, from a different point of view. I believe I once heard that Einstein had once flunked algebra. Another of his failures was his first marriage. But I forgot to ask Dr. Piccioni who helped Einstein with tensors and curved space. Reimann?
The news of Widom-Larsen and its potential for nuclear energy is keeping me busy with Google searches! I see it proposes to explain the “cold fusion” fiasco of 1989, as weak interactions, not fusion at all, but still with fascinating potential, if confirmed. So glad to hear about this!
Thank you, Dr. Piccioni! (And thank you Aurora, for latching onto an outstanding presentation!)
Really enjoyed Dr Piccioni’s talk; I intend to look up more of the resources he said he has available online. The suggestion of cold fusion in our future was really exciting.
Yes, my son and I were very honored to get to listen to Dr Piccioni…
I was a physics major at Cal Poly (15 years ago) and I am always enthusiastic when someone like Dr Piccioni is out there teaching and hopefully drawing more kids into Science and Mathematics careers. He has a very excellent way of keeping people listening (even if they don’t totally understand) with humor and thoughtful dialog.
My son really enjoyed the talk as well and is in the process of deciding on whether to apply as a Science major (concentrating in Astro Physics) or Software Engineering. You actually taught him at Family Partnership 5/6 years ago – Ryan Hampton… He is a senior at SLO High right now and doing very well.
The one point that surprised me, was the opinion that we will have fission in 3-5 years. While I don’t know how that could be possible that soon – it definitely caught my interest to research this more…
Thank you for having him speak.
Yes , I attended Dr. Piccioni’s lecture last night with a retired physician friend of mine. We both found his lecture very interesting and informative. He certainly has as gift for communicating scientific concepts to lay audiences in both an entertaining and comprehensible manner.
Thank you and the club for helping to bring him and other outstanding physicists to the area.
Thank-you so much for the chance to meet you both. It was nice that you stopped in San Luis Obispo, and I hope your brief stay was pleasant.
Although the events have I science theme, they always also build my appreciation on a spiritual level, as well as teaching valuable life lessons. Albert Einstein had amazing stamina and I appreciated applying his life to my own discouragements that we all face at times.
Thanks too for the explaination on matter to energy and how ineffecient electron cloud reactions are. I understand more than ever the value of fusion.
But Dr. Piccioni, the nicest part of the evening was before the lecture. For 2 or 3 minutes I talked to Mrs. Piccioni about the grandchildren. I have 4 myself – I cherish them so much, as I could tell you folks cherish yours. Love them forever. Thank-you both so much.
My wife and I enjoyed the Einstein talk. We learned much about this great mind in a very understandable manner. Thanks for offering this very nice talk to the community for free and it was very nice of the speaker to come and share his expertise with us…
He was great! It was an excellent presentation. I plan to visit his website soon.
OMG! DO IT AGAIN!
Dear Aurora,
Very much enjoyed meeting you and want to have you as my “teacher. I have been a star gazer since I can remember. I am very much an amateur hobbyist in astronomy, astro-physics, climatology, well you get the idea. (Lady who loved your fabulous red hair, you have gorgeous hair.)
The Dr.’s lecture was inspiring and informational; his wife was lovely and funny. I had a chance to talk to her before the lecture.
I have “star-gazing” parties at my house but this is only just in the general enjoyment of the evening since the light pollution locally continues to intrude. But my friends are impressed that I know the constellations Orion, Pegasus, Scorpius, and can point out high flying satellites, and fast moving meteors, again you get the idea. (I keep planting trees in the hopes someday they will block the neighbors floodlights. Another 20 years!)
I like your idea much better! Telescopes!! yippee! I have two telescopes, but I must admit I have no real knowledge of how to get them onto something further away than the moon, so I use them to watch my red-tail hawk’s aire. Yes I’ve seen little baby hawk heads poke up and watched them fledge year after year. Quite another source of enjoyment here at Hawk Ridge Ranch. I can’t wait to take your class on ‘how to use your telescope’.
I bought both books, finished the pamphlet and am on to the hard cover. I forgot to ask my question about the Maunder Minimum first recorded shortly after the invention of the telescope. Since (I believe) the sun plays the largest part in earths climate, not to exclude the three larger cycles of eliptic, axis tilt, and precession. I am particularly interested in this current minimum, the cycles of our Sun, and it’s affect on us.
You, Aurora, are amazing and a wonderful example of passion and enthusiasm for science. I very much hope I will have the opportunity to get to know you. Thank you for creating such an exciting venue. I hope to attend more such lectures locally, or get on a bus and go to JPL.
One might think that a real estate salesperson and a brainiac physicist would have no shared interests but that thought would be quite wrong. Thank you, Dr. Piccioni for taking your time to share a bit of your world with me. You provided me with a rarely available opportunity to hear about a subject that fascinates me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My friend and really enjoyed the evening. The lecture was just the right length, not too technical, not dumbed down, and a tad funny. It was quite amusing to learn about Einstein the man. Not just the famous scientist version. Well done and thank you.
My name is Ryan and I’m 10 years old. I attended your presentation about Einstien in San Luis Obispo. I really enjoyed the part about alternative energy and comparing what we have now to what we might use in the future. I also bought both of your books and am in chapter six of Atoms, Einstein and the Universe. I thought your presentation was very enjoyable. I hope you will give more around here.
Sincerely,
Ryan Nett
I thought Dr. Piccioni’s talk was wonderful!!! I learned so much! His way of speaking, along with the power point and interjections of humor made for a very enjoyable evening and a fun way to learn about a lot of scientific facts. I was so inspired to learn more and didn’t hesitate to buy his book, Atoms, Einstein and the Universe. I do hope he speaks on the Central Coast again. I know of friends and family members who would really like to see his presentation.
Thanks, I was amazed by this blog post. I found this site using Google search, and certainly liked skimming through it, so I’ll probably stumble through again within a few days and read up on what’s new
Thanks!
In mathematical setup of/for Einstein’s STR, Time have also three components, Namely, Tx, Ty, Tz. And they obey Pythagoras Theorem. This can be proved by simple algebra. Space & time can be equivalent But they never can be fused by, or, united by complex numbers or imaginary no. , iota or “i”. All this simply means that mathematicians & physicists of modern/present days don’t have clear cut, crystal clear idea of imaginary no.. They all are mislead. The physical picture/meaning of this mathematical concept is not correct, misleading & false. space & time can only be united by feedback equations. Exponential relations, exponential formulas, exponential functions, i.e; exponential number, – “e”, can only make the relation between time & space clear. It is now or never – condition. If Hybrid “Space-Time” machine is not now made, it will never be made.