Chapter 84 Final Candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physics
September 28, 1901, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, Royal Academy of Sciences.
The quaint building exudes a strong scientific atmosphere.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was founded in 1739. From the beginning, its members mainly consisted of nobles, bureaucrats, and some university professors.
Because the powerful people at that time were well-educated, and their joining would bring great benefits to the Academy of Sciences, they were not criticized.
However, with the development of the times, the original personnel structure no longer meets the requirements of the Academy of Sciences.
So in the mid-19th century, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences carried out a major reform, requiring that elected academicians must be outstanding representatives of various Swedish disciplines.
In layman's terms, without real talent and practical knowledge (in the field of natural sciences), you cannot be an academician.
Since then, the Academy of Sciences has entered a new period of formal development and has become synonymous with authority in the academic field.
There is only one full-time secretary in the entire Academy of Sciences who handles daily affairs, and all other academicians, including the dean, are amateurs.
They do not receive any salary, have no administrative power, and simply contribute to science.
Academician is an honorary title with no distinction between high and low.
Only bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate, lecturer, and professor are academic career levels.
Of course, these do not affect the value and academic authority of each academician.
But now, in a conference room of the Academy of Sciences, the academician and authority figures inside are worrying about the final candidates for the Nobel Prize.
The five members of the first Nobel Prize Committee in Physics were all elected from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. They are:
Professor Eric of Lund University, Sweden, and Professor Haviland of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. , Professor Savage of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, Professor Olof of Stockholm University in Sweden, and Professor Oster of University of Copenhagen in Denmark (foreign academician).
Among them, Eric was the one who wrote to Thomson. He wanted to listen to his old friend's advice.
Havilland is Anders's uncle, and Anders is the second-generation dandy who provoked Li Qiwei at the French radiology conference.
At this time, Eric said: "Everyone, based on the previous rounds of selection, there are only six results left."
"Actually, we have already postponed it. Logically speaking, the final candidates should be determined in August."
"However, considering that this is the first time it is held, the Academy of Sciences allows us to extend it, but it only lasts until this time. At the end of the month. "
"According to the rules of the award, only two work results can be awarded at the same time; if a result is completed by two or three people, it should be awarded jointly."
" But there can only be a maximum of three winners at a time.”
“So everyone, let’s take a closer look at the information in hand and ask you to state your reasons for recommendation again.”
Eric took the lead in flipping through the information, which contained detailed information on each candidate's information and achievements:
Name, age, nationality, professional status, major achievements, etc.
1. Roentgen, 56 years old, Germany, professor at the University of Munich, discovered X-rays and their applications.
2. Thomson, 45 years old, UK, professor at Cambridge University, theoretical and experimental research on gas conduction, and discovery of electrons.
3. Becquerel (49 years old, France, professor at the Ecole Polytechnique de Paris), Pierre Curie (42 years old, France, professor at the University of Paris), Marie Curie (34 years old, France, Lecturer at the École Normale Supérieure de Sèvre) for joint research into the discovered radioactive phenomenon.
4. Lorenz (48 years old, Netherlands, professor at Leiden University) and Zeeman (36 years old, Netherlands, professor at the University of Amsterdam), joint research on the radiation phenomenon of magnetic fields.
5. Planck (43 years old, Germany, professor at the University of Berlin) and Li Qiwei (21 years old, Qing Dynasty, PhD student at Cambridge University) jointly discovered quantum theory and promoted the development of physics.
6. Li Qiwei (21 years old, Qing Dynasty, PhD student at Cambridge University), for his achievements in theoretical physics, especially explaining the law of photoelectric effect and proposing the concept of wave-particle duality of light.
After reading the information in his hand, Eric frowned and felt entangled in his heart.
If it were not for the restrictions of the award rules, all six results should be awarded, and the processing would be very simple.
But now, if the first Nobel Prize in Physics cannot be selected to satisfy all physicists, it may be difficult to hold it again.
He first said: "Let me tell you my personal opinion first."
"Among the six candidate results, Roentgen's X-ray was the first to be confirmed. It opened the The door to new phenomena in physics."
"Before this, physics has been dominated by the three major branches, and there is nothing that cannot be explained by them."
"So, I think Roentgen can be used. One of the final candidates.”
The remaining four people were slightly stunned. What Eric said was one of them, which meant that he would add another result. Could it be his good friend Thomson?
Everyone knows the relationship between him and the other party, but this is not suspected of nepotism.
Unexpectedly, Eric continued: "As for the second result, I think quantum theory is very suitable."
"Its proposal officially opened modern physics and broke hundreds of The continuous view of space and time in recent years is of great significance.”
“The discovery of X-rays, radioactivity, and electrons has revealed the phenomena of modern physics, and quantum theory has theoretically proved the future of physics for the first time. ”
"Therefore, I propose that Röntgen, Planck and Li Qiwei be the final candidates in recognition of their extraordinary achievements."
As soon as the words finished, several people murmured in the conference room.
After a while, Haviland said: "Professor Eric, I have a little different opinion."
Eric motioned for him to continue, and the other three people listened quietly. With. "I have no problem with Roentgen as the final candidate, but I have a problem with Bruce Lee."
"Forgive me for calling him by his English name, because his Qing name is too difficult to pronounce."
"First of all, quantum theory was proposed less than a year ago. Although there is verification of the photoelectric effect, it is still not sufficient. , has not passed the test of time."
"Secondly, Bruce Lee is a Qing Dynasty person. I think everyone here knows what the situation is."
"If a Westerner. The world's highest scientific award is actually awarded to a Qing Dynasty person. I think there will be many people questioning the fairness and authority of the award. "
"To be more serious, it may even have bad political implications."
"Finally, I heard that Bruce Lee is very arrogant and often speaks arrogantly. When he was an undergraduate, he provoked Lord Kelvin and other physics seniors on the spot."
"These are the reasons why I think he is not suitable. The reason. "
"As for the results 1-4, I think there is no distinction in terms of importance, but Roentgen's discovery is indeed the earliest, so it is more reasonable to award the first Nobel Prize to him. ”
When Haviland finished speaking his opinion, the conference room fell silent, and the remaining people seemed to smell an unusual smell.
Even Eric couldn't help but look at Haviland, who looked calm, as if what he just stated was the truth without any prejudice.
At this time, Auster suddenly said: "Professor Haviland, I think what you just said is a bit biased."
Hearing this, Haviland was not angry or moved, but responded with a smile, expressing his willingness to hear Its detailed.
Oersted continued: "Everyone, we must always remember Mr. Nobel's request in his will."
"He once said: The physics prize is awarded to the most important person in the physics world. Those who make major discoveries or inventions will not take any consideration into the nationality of the winning candidates. Whoever meets the most qualified conditions should receive the prize.”
“Since even nationality is not important, then professional status, gender, etc. The age and personality of the candidate are even less important.”
"What I object to more is that academic awards should not have anything to do with politics."
"Whether there is a war between the East and the West now, that is a matter for some people and not something that scientists need to consider. "
"Of course, unless there is an unforgivable war that destroys the country and destroys the species, the impact needs to be considered."
"In terms of pure scientific achievements and importance, Quantum theory is stronger than the other five achievements."
"I think everyone here will have no objection to this."
"We can just follow the simplest principle. The award will be awarded to whoever is the best."
"So, I suggest that the final candidates are Planck and Bruce Lee."
< br>"In addition, I would like to add that the first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to a Qing Dynasty person, which can further highlight the supremacy of the Nobel Prize."
"It transcends all prejudices. Scholars will fight for it.”
“Narrowness will prevent the development of science.”
call!
When Auster finished his inspiring words, several people present were obviously moved.
It can be said that Auster and Haviland are completely a collision between two different values.
However, it may be because Oster is from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and is not in Sweden anyway, so there will be no conflict with Haviland.
That’s why he is so direct.
If it had been the other three, even if they disagreed, they would probably have said it tactfully.
Haviland's face remained calm, not losing his composure due to his public opposition.
At this time, the conference room fell into silence again.
Three selection members, three opinions, the remaining Savage and Orlov are particularly important.
Because the principle of the Nobel Prize Committee in Physics is: a show of hands in favor, the minority obeys the majority.
And there is no fear of malicious manipulation, because the final candidate selected by the five-member group must be voted by all members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences before being approved.
Therefore, no one can control everyone in the whole process.
Savage said: "I agree with Professor Oster's point of view. Academics should only look at the size of the results and eliminate all biases."
"But if we look at it from the perspective of the classification of theory and experiment, In other words, I am more inclined to Professor Eric’s suggestion.”
“The Nobel Prize in Physics should show equal attention to theoretical results and experimental results, and both have their own evaluation criteria. ”
Orlov, who had not spoken in the end, also expressed his views.
After repeated discussions, the five people voted by a show of hands.
(End of this chapter)