Eddington at Sundy: From History to Legacy Column

Joana Latas Rosa Doran Keywords University of Coimbra, IIIUC & NUCLIO – Núcleo Interativo de Astronomia & solar eclipse, Príncipe Island NUCLIO – Núcleo Interativo de Astronomia University of Coimbra, CITEUC [email protected] [email protected]

Maria José dos Prazeres João Fernandes Regional Government of Príncipe Island, University of Coimbra, CITEUC, Department of Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Mathematics, Geophysical and Astronomical Development Observatory [email protected] [email protected]

Eddington at Sundy: 100 Years Later celebrated the centenary of the observations of the 1919 solar eclipse, a landmark event that resulted in the first experimental confirmation of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This celebration was recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as a milestone event for their centenary celebration. More than 50 institutions contributed to nearly 100 initiatives developed in different formats, climaxing in an intense programme experienced by hundreds of people at the Roça Sundy landmark on Príncipe Island at the end of May 2019. Like the 1919 expeditions, three continents were directly involved in these celebrations, showing that international collaboration can result in a sum greater than its parts, leaving a legacy that will prevail for many years to come.

Introduction life. Relativistic effects play a crucial role Strategy and Implementation in determining precise locations and On 6 November 1919, in a session of exact timing via global navigation satellite E@S brought together people from diverse the Royal Astronomical Society, three systems such as the American Global backgrounds to celebrate the centenary renowned British astronomers presented Positional System (GPS) and European of the 1919 solar eclipse under a unified the report of two expeditions, one to Galileo. vision1 challenged by an organizational Sobral, Brazil, and one to the island of team including the Regional Government Príncipe, a then-colony of Portugal. The The discovery itself is also a story of of [the Island of] Principe, Santomean and goal of the expeditions was to observe the resilience. The observation occurred just Portuguese universities, and educational total solar eclipse of 29 May 1919 and test after World War I. However, the preparation and science outreach institutions. This one of the predictions of the then- recent that started two years before was held back was accomplished through international general theory of relativity: that light would by the lack of specialized manpower, old communication channels among various deflect due to mass. In their conclusions, instrumentation that was ill-adapted to this public groups and the cultural impact of the astronomers, Sir Frank Watson Dyson, monumental experiment, and continental the 1919 solar eclipse in São Tomé and Arthur Stanley Eddington and Charles division. However, the collaborative pursuit Príncipe. Rundle Davidson, were emphatic: ‘Thus of scientific overcame these restrictions. the results of the expeditions to Sobral The transcontinental effort across London The E@S programme took place between and Príncipe can leave little doubt that (Europe), Príncipe (Africa), and Sobral 14 April, 2018 and 30 November, 2019, with deflection of light takes place in the (South America), and its magnificent nearly 100 events about science, history of neighbourhood of the Sun and that it is history and results inspired Eddington science, science education, and science of the amount demanded by Einstein’s at Sundy: 100 Years Later (E@S). communication. generalized theory of relativity, as attributed Despite the difficulties a layperson has in to the Sun’s gravitational field’ (Dyson, understanding General Relativity and the From May 24 to 29, 2019, the island of Eddington & Davidson, 1920). full scientific topics encompassed, the Príncipe hosted the culmination of the E@S dozens of collaborators and institutions celebrations, with 35 events in ten different Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity has involved in the celebration prepared and locations around the island. been acclaimed as one of the most fruitful implemented activities with care and theories in science. The applications of enthusiasm to produce a rewarding and The six-day programme balanced public the theory have ranged from the orbital successful experience. Now, the legacy interests, expectations, and cultural movement of Mercury around the Sun to – Espaço Ciência Sundy (Sundy Science inputs from residents and visitors with the structure of black holes to the shape Space)– will guarantee that the celebration the available resources across the island. of the universe to gravitational waves, both will materialize into a long-lasting vision to Before this ‘main event in Príncipe’ – as we recognized with Nobel Prizes. However, change and enrich the community. will call it – a pre-event in January 2019 its impact can also be seen in our daily allowed us to listen to the local community,

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gather their views and expectations, and a process of virtual interaction between World Biosphere Reserve3 and bridged establish important collaborations. students from different countries. The implicit and explicit representations of 2019 GSO Gravity honoured the 1919 scientific knowledge in an environment Resilience and trust built between the expeditions. familiar to local community members. international organising committee and Each station engaged participants through the local commission in Príncipe proved The main story of Gravity resulted from a touch, cognition, and emotion (‘hands-on, fundamental to the management of five-month online collaboration between minds-on, hearts-on’) creating a fully available resources in an environment students and teachers from schools of both interactive knowledge-sharing experience that rarely holds international events like islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, Campos, for both audiences and specialists. In this E@S. For example, about a month before and Sobral in Brazil, and Porto in Portugal, Trilho da Ciência, scientists and teachers the main event, a deadly shipwreck in the with support from artists, musicians, from the Príncipe High School iteratively crossing between São Tomé and Príncipe, scientists, computer programmers, and worked together to design some stations and a fire in another boat in the São Tomé other specialists from different fields. This of the trail. harbour caused concern about the timely format allowed participants to actively arrival of goods and fuel for the event. discuss and negotiate during production. The Trilho da Ciência was also used The diverse array of participants enriched in teacher training organized by the Communication and coordination were the production’s storyline with diverse Portuguese Language Office of key to the success of E@S. In fact, the interpretations of ‘gravity’, from Einstein’s Astronomy for Development (PLOAD)4 interlinking between concepts, activities, General Theory of Relativity to today’s with representatives from five Portuguese- institutions, people, and places was crucial advanced knowledge of gravitational speaking countries and members of to ensure the global coherence of the waves. the PLOAD and science teachers from celebrations. Príncipe. The performance was broadcasted on 29 In addition, the concept of the Trilho da Communication was used to strategically May 2019 during the main E@S event in Ciência was presented in the exhibition 3E promote an interest in science using a Príncipe (Figure 1). The world premiere - Três Eclipses (3E - Three Eclipses)5 an two-way dialogue between society and took place in November 2019 with the exhibition of the 1914, 1919, and 2013 total science, which recognized mutual benefits participation of more than 20 countries. solar eclipses produced by the Science for different audiences (Trench, 2008). Museum of University of Coimbra, Portugal. Consistent with this model of science Interactions communication, we highlight four principles Network that were present in the development of The interactions between scientific E@S actions: i) co-creation, ii) interactions, knowledge and society were also The growing credibility of the E@S iii) network, and iv) glocal. established through the Trilho da Ciência project was reflected in the participation (Science Trail), a nature walk that explores by the international scientific community. Co-creation the universe through ‘stations’ which explain The network of astronomers and other the science of the surrounding environment science specialists who, individually or The Global Science Opera (GSO)2 is a (Figure 2). The trail concept was inspired institutionally, supported the celebration collaborative project that brings scientific by the 1919 eclipse observations and the and participated in the main event on and artistic inquiry into schools through designation of Príncipe as a UNESCO Príncipe, and enriched the celebration

Figure 1. Performances of the 2019 Global Science Opera Gravity by students of Figure 2. Trilho da Ciência (Science Trail) station ‘Why do eclipses occur?’ taught Príncipe High School and Portuguese School of São Tomé and Príncipe on 29 May by Joyn Tioló, teacher at Principe High School. Credit: Marina Balbina 2019 at the Roça Sundy landmark on Príncipe Island. Credit: Marina Balbina

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Figure 3. In a manifestation of culture, actors per- Figure 4. Videoconference Príncipe e Sobral 100 Years Later. On the Príncipe side, seated left to right are the form an excerpt from the Príncipean play Auto de Jorge Bom Jesus, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe; José Cassandra, President of the Regional Floripes near the entrance of Espaço Ciência Sundy Government of Príncipe; Aires Bruzaca, Dean of the Public University of São Tomé and Príncipe; IAU President (Science Space Sundy). Credit: Valente Cuambe Ewine van Dishoeck; and José Sande Lemos, President of the Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation (CENTRA). Each delivered a speech during the videoconference. Credit: Maique Madeira

with their networking and knowledge communicators, along with other official science spoke with the people of Príncipe sharing. Interactions between individuals guests and representatives of partner next to the telescope used during the 1919 in different arenas consolidated the E@S institutions. expedition to Sobral. From Príncipe to the network and brought different perspectives Community members, local students and world, impressions and interpretations to the E@S actions. teachers, visiting researchers, and guests about science, history, and culture were E@S was recognized by the International connected through activities throughout shared. Astronomical Union (IAU) as a Milestone the landmark’s campus. Traversing Moreover, the inauguration of the Espaço project in their own centenary celebration, between the global and local dimensions Ciência Sundy (Sundy Science Space) IAU100. IAU President Ewine van Dishoeck created a place for cultural moments, such marked the political commitment of São and IAU General Secretary Teresa Lago as the honouring of literary and musical Tomé and Príncipe to global science and attended the main event in Príncipe to contributions by the Príncipe diaspora, the historical location (Figure 5). show support from the IAU100. and discussions of gravitational waves E@S achieved its goal of a global The international conference From between high-level specialists in culture celebration for one of the most important Einstein and Eddington to LIGO: 100 and science (Figure 3). discoveries of the 20th century, and in turn Years of Gravitational Light Deflection6, Through videoconference, public built links among people across the globe held in Príncipe between 26-28 May 2019 authorities and scientists in Príncipe and placed the foundation stone of a new promoted a face-to-face collaboration and Sobral talked, which strengthened era of science and education for the island. between fifteen prestigious experts. They their ties (Figure 4). A British historian of were invited to discuss, share, and reflect on scientific development in Relativity- related topics over the last century (Lemos et al., 2019). Relationships were also established between members of the scientific community and the media, resulting in a number of productions, namely the documentary À Espera das Estrelas (Waiting for the Stars)7 produced by RTP Africa.

Glocal

In the same place that Eddington and Cottingham chose to observe the eclipse on 29 May 1919, the Roça Sundy received

more than five hundred visitors exactly Figure 5. Unveiling of the inaugural plaque of Espaço Ciência Sundy (Science Space Sundy) by the presidents a hundred years later. About a hundred of São Tomé and Príncipe and Portugal in the presence of the President the Autonomous Region of Príncipe and were scientists, educators, science the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea. Credit: Maique Madeira

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2 Legacy Global Science Opera website: https:// Trench, B. 2008, ‘Towards an analytical globalscienceopera.com/. framework of science communication 3 models’. In: Cheng, D. and Claessens, M. The E@S legacy has been materialized UNESCO webpage of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on Príncipe: https://en. and Gascoigne, T. and Metcalfe, J. and through Espaço Ciência Sundy. This non- unesco.org/biosphere/africa/island-of-principe Schiele, B. and Shi, S., (eds.) formal educational setting was developed Communicating science in social contexts: 4 Portuguese Language Office of Astronomy by an interdisciplinary team and aims to new models, new practices. Springer for Development (PLOAD) website: http:// embody the link between history and Netherlands, pp. 119-138. pload.org/ science, safeguarding the legacy of a 5 major scientific event. This space broadens The 3E - Três Eclipses exhibition and other E@S activities are further explained on the the range of science education options Acknowledgements E@S website: https://esundy.org/index.php/ on Príncipe beyond what is currently en/homepage/. supported in the school infrastructure. Joana Latas thanks the members of the 6 From Einstein and Eddington to LIGO: 100 The space will also stimulate initiatives organising and scientific committees of Years of Gravitational Light Deflection in training and innovation in responsible Conference website: https://science.esundy. Eddington at Sundy: 100 Years Later for their tourism, in line with the development plan tecnico.ulisboa.pt/en/ dedication; the partners and sponsors for their of Príncipe8 with the aim of improving the support and engagement; every single person 7 The documentary, in Portuguese, is residents’ quality of life (Latas, 2019). To available at https://www.rtp.pt/play/p5865/ who joined this celebration anywhere in the bolster local development, a planetarium espera-das-estrelas. The collection of world; the Regional Government of Príncipe was constructed in this space at the resources produced by RTP Africa within the for playing a crucial role as co-organizer of end of March 2020. Although there is no scope of Eddington @ Sundy are available at this celebration; and finally, the Foundation for public opening date due to the COVID-19 https://esundy.org/index.php/es-na-imprensa/. Science and Technology, Portugal for financial pandemic, this planetarium will be the first 8 Príncipe 2030 official website: https://www. support through the PhD scholarship SFRH/ in the country and one of the few on the principe2030.com/ BD/14965/2019. west coast of Africa. 9 Harambee Communicate Africa prize CITEUC is funded by Foundation for Science Additionally, the media of E@S have won announcement: https://harambee-portugal. and Technology (project UID-PB/0061/2020). awards in the months following E@S. RTP org/comunicar-africa/premio-comunicar- Africa received the international Harambee africa/ Communicate Africa prize for the Terra 10 2019 Prémios Bandas Desenhadas comic Biographies Príncipe episode ‘Jewels of Príncipe’9 and awards announcement: https:// the comic Einstein, Eddington, and Eclipse bandasdesenhadas.com/2020/04/24/premios- bandas-desenhadas-2019-os-vencedores/ Joana Latas is currently a PhD researcher in – Travel Impressions (Simões & Sousa, the History of Science and Scientific Education 2019) received a Portuguese 2019 Comics at the University of Coimbra. She is also Award prize.10 active in international networks in the areas In addition to these awards, but no less of mathematics education and astronomy References for development. Recently, she coordinated important, the organizational division Eddington at Sundy: 100 Years Later project into independent, remote teams has Dyson, F. W., Eddington, A. S. & Davidson, C. (esundy.org). established new collaborations beyond 1920, ‘A Determination of the Deflection of Light by the Sun’s Gravitational Field, from Maria José dos Prazeres is currently the E@S context. These initiatives are still the Director of Environment and Nature Observations Made at the Total Eclipse of ongoing. Conservation on Príncipe Island. She May 29, 1919’. Philosophical Transactions of graduated from the University of Lisboa and the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical since 2013 she has taught mathematics at and Engineering Sciences, 220 (571-581), Príncipe High School. Maria José coordinated Final Remarks 291–333. doi:10.1098/rsta.1920.0009 the Local Organizing Committee for the Eddington at Sundy: 100 Years Later project Latas, J. 2019, ‘A pedra fundamental de um on Príncipe Island. Eddington at Sundy: 100 Years Later united legado no Príncipe, 100 anos depois’. hundreds through one eclipse one hundred Gazeta de Física, 42(2), 30-31. Rosa Doran is a science educator devoted to years after a landmark experiment. The the integration of modern trends for innovation Lemos, J. P. S.; Herdeiro, C.A. R. & Cardoso, unique celebration brought together in the classroom, with a special emphasis on V. 2019, ‘Einstein and Eddington and the the use of astronomy for STEAM learning. scientists, artists, politicians, educators, eclipse in Principe: Celebration and science She received a PhD in Science Education students, families, and community 100 years after’, Gazeta de Fisica, 42(4/5), from the University of Coimbra in 2020 and members to commemorate the interactions 26-32; arXiv:1912.08354 [physics.hist-ph]. holds leadership positions in a number of of science, history, diversity, society, international astronomy research and outreach Simões, A. & Sousa, A. M. 2019, ‘Einstein, organizations. and culture across borders. The event Eddington e o Eclipse. Impressões de is a testimony of the importance of the Viagem’, Lisboa, Associação Chili Com João Fernandes is an astronomer and observations, and its legacy will continue Carne. Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department at the University of Coimbra. on the island of Príncipe. He received a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Paris in 1996 and habilitation Notes in Physics/Astrophysics from the University of Coimbra, in 2014. He was the Portuguese SPOC for the International Year of Astronomy 1 Vision for Eddington at Sundy webpage: 2009. https://esundy.org/index.php/en/about-es/ vision/

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