Presentation:
Emmy Noether: Mistress of Nature’s Laws
Title:
Emmy Noether: Mistress of Nature’s Laws
Speaker:
Ransom Stephens, Ph.D.
A speech for nonscientists who are interested in science, its history and the role of women in science and
mathematics.
Each speech is customized to address the specific needs of the audience. Past audiences include high
school students and teachers, college students, adults at popular science events in cafes, museums,
community centers, bars, and even atop a mountain!
“Entertaining and inspiring. Ransom’s knowledge is astounding and clearly stated.”
-Julaina Kleist
Description:
A female Jewish intellectual in Nazi Germany, Emmy Noether made perhaps the most significant discovery
of the 20th century. Noether’s Theorem ties the laws of nature directly to the geometry of space and time, the
very fabric of reality. It is the basis for all modern physics theories, from the “Standard Model” to
Superstrings, and is the keystone of the origin of mass problem and the search for the Higgs Boson.
Two things should bother you about Noether’s Theorem: (1) how come so few people have heard of
Emmy Noether? and (2) why isn’t her theorem well known to lovers of science? With the help of < The
Sponsoring organization> Ransom Stephens solves these problems on <date of event>.
“Great for a person with interest but little background knowledge.” -Linda Darly-Reid
This speech helps participants understand:
•
Who Emmy Noether was, her personal trials and the impact of her work
•
The nature of physical law and the relationship between space and time and the laws of nature
•
The origin of mass problem and the search for the Higgs boson at Fermilab and CERN
“I thought it was terrific! Informative and hip.” -Robert Porter
Details:
This 50 or 75 minute presentation requires a PC-compatible projector.
“I think Ransom might be Hermann Weyl or another of Emmy's friends and
mentees reincarnated, come back to share her story so she finally takes her
rightful place in history.”-Thoi Pham
Speaker Bio:
Ransom Stephens, Ph.D., is a professor of particle physics turned writer and speaker. He has worked on
experiments at SLAC, Fermilab and CERN; discovered a new type of matter formed by the fusion of two
photons, made the most precise measurements of rare bottom quark decays in the world, and was on the
team that discovered the top quark. His novel, The God Patent (www.TheGodPatent.com), is set in the
battle between science and religion over the nature of the soul and the origin of the universe. It features a
character based on the turn of the century mathematician, Emmy Noether.
“Excellent! Just enough math and science to be interesting without being overwhelming
for those who lack a physics background.” -Andrew Lawrence, MENSA.
© Ransom Stephens, 2012.
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