C T R Wilson, a great Scottish Physicist: his life, work and legacy Friday 7 December 2012
Speakers include: Professor Malcolm Longair, University of Cambridge; Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale, Durham University; Professor Anne Glover, European Commission; Professor Jim Hinton, University of Leicester; and Marjory Roy, Royal Meteorological Society
A meeting will be held in December 2012 to honour C T R Wilson, the 1927 Nobel Physics Laureate, who invented the cloud chamber. This device, described by Rutherford as “the most original and wonderful instrument in scienti• c history”, was used in many discoveries that led to the development of particle physics. Wilson was also deeply interested in atmospheric electricity and his ideas about thunderstorms are at the heart of modern theories. Speakers will discuss his life and his contributions to physics, as well as current work on cosmic rays and climate, thunderstorms, particle physics and the search for the origin of cosmic rays, on the existence of which Wilson speculated 10 years before their discovery in 1912. Full programme is printed overleaf Being held at To register please go to our website The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) www.royalsoced.org.uk 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ or contact the RSE Events Department: tel: 0131 240 2780 Full rate: £120 fax 0131 240 5024 Concessionary and student rate*: £50 * Limited places available email: [email protected] This event is supported by SUPA, The Institute of Physics, the Royal Meteorological Society, Astroparticle Physics and Environmental Physics Groups of the Institute of Physics, the University of Edinburgh School of Physics and Astronomy and the University of Glasgow School of Physics and Astronomy
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, is Scottish Charity No SC000470 C T R Wilson, a great Scottish physicist: his life, work and legacy
Programme
09.00 Registration and coffee
09.30 Welcome Sir John P Arbuthnott MRIA PRSE President, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Session 1 Chairperson: Professor James Hough FRS FRSE Chief Executive, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
09.35 C T R Wilson: reminiscences of a Grandson Andrew Wilson
09.45 Scene setting Dr Tam Dalyell FRSE
09.55 Glories seen at the Ben Nevis Meteorological Observatory Marjory Roy Scottish Centre, Royal Meteorological Society
10.25 Tea and coffee
Session 2 Chairperson: Alison McLure National Of! cer (Scotland), Institute of Physics
10.50 CTR Wilson at the Cavendish Laboratory Professor Malcolm Longair CBE FRS FRSE Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Cambridge
11.20 The impact of C T R Wilson on particle physics Professor Don Perkins CBE FRS Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Oxford
11.50 CTR’s contributions to atmospheric electricity Professor Giles Harrison Department of Meteorology, University of Reading
12.20 Lunch C T R Wilson, a great Scottish physicist: his life, work and legacy
Session 3 Chairperson: Professor Arthur Trew FRSE Head, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
13.20 Clim ate change and the cosm os Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS Emeritus Professor, Department of Physics, Durham University
13.50 The m any uses of the rare isotopes produced by cosm ic rays Professor Finlay Stuart Isotope Geosciences Unit, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
14.20 Medical Im pact of cosm ic radiation Professor Anne Glover CBE FRSE Chief Scienti! c Advisor, European Commission
14.50 Tea and Coffee
Session 4 Chairperson: Professor Sheila Rowan MBE FRSE Professor of Experimantal Physics, University of Glasgow
15.15 Astronom y with dustbins and light buckets Dr Paula Chadwick Durham University
15.45 The future of astronom y at high energies Professor Jim Hinton Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester
16.15 Meeting overview and the future of high-energy cosm ic rays Professor Alan Watson FRS Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Leeds
16.45 Sum m ary and close Guidance for visitors to the RSE: The RSE provides facilities and services for disabled visitors. Please visit the RSE web site or contact the events department for details. For details on accommodation please contact the RSE or visit our web site.