Chapter 341: Returning to Cambridge in glory, I have become a legend!
On February 1, 1913, Li Qiwei was invited by Thomson to give an academic report at his alma mater, Cambridge University.
Wealth that does not return home is like walking in brocade at night.
After Li Qiwei returned to Cambridge, he was warmly welcomed by the teachers and students of the school.
Everyone chanted his name, just like the star-chasers of later generations.
Of course, Li Qiwei is much more famous than a celebrity.
He is a legendary figure destined to be written into the history of Cambridge University, as famous as Newton and Maxwell.
Although he has been here many times before.
But this time is different. In his dual capacity as an alumnus and a scholar, he officially returned to school to give a speech.
The teachers and students of Cambridge have changed for several rounds, but everyone regards him as a legend.
Despite Li Qiwei's calmness, his heart was still agitated and full of emotions.
“Unconsciously, I have become a legend in the eyes of others.”
Thomson led everyone from the Cavendish Laboratory to prepare a grand welcome ceremony for Ridgway.
Li Qiwei and Wilson shook hands vigorously, nothing was said.
Then, he greeted the welcoming staff cordially, showing his masterly style, and was greeted with a burst of screams.
Finally, accompanied by Thomson, Ridgway visited the Cavendish Laboratory.
Today, Cavendish is getting stronger and stronger, with the number of people fully doubled.
Although two generals, Li Qiwei and Rutherford, have been lost, the laboratory's output is still gratifying.
Belongs to the world's first-class laboratories.
Li Qiwei looked at the various instruments and equipment in the laboratory and felt emotional.
Even such an awesome laboratory has changed in later generations.
The early 20th century was the peak of Cavendish, but it gradually declined and never regained its glory.
On the one hand, it is because the development of physics has entered the deep water area, and it is difficult to produce explosive original results.
This is due to the times and not to human power.
On the other hand, academics are mixed with more other interests and become impure.
Scientific research is no longer driven by interest and the desire for truth, but by funding.
But now, Cavendish is thriving and shows no signs of decline.
The masters and doctors in the laboratory had light in their eyes and dreams in their hearts. They were extremely excited to see Li Qiwei.
Soon, Thomson brought Li Qiwei into his office.
He has a happy event to say.
"Bruce, I have nominated you as an academician of the Royal Society, and the recommendation letter has been submitted."
"The election is on March 17."
"According to the regulations, at least It must be jointly recommended by 6 academicians.”
“So I called Rutherford, Old Bragg and others.”
Li Qiwei did not expect that Thomson would do it. He also brought others with him.
It’s good to have a great mentor.
"Thank you very much, Professor Thomson."
"It seems that I have to thank Rutherford for the lecture in Manchester."
Thomson will My heart smiles.
"Bruce, with your academic achievements, you could have joined the Royal Society a long time ago."
"It's just that you are not British. The Royal Society controls this area very strictly."
"There are only 4 foreign academicians every year."
"It will be spread to more than a dozen field.”
“So in many cases, personal results are secondary factors.”
Li Qiwei nodded, he understood the logic.
A country's highest academic institution symbolizes the country's respect for scientific and technological talents and will certainly not easily allow foreigners to join.
Otherwise, our own scientific researchers would be very disappointed.
This is true even in later generations. It is extremely difficult for foreign academicians to become academicians. They must have huge academic achievements or equivalent contributions.
What’s more, Li Qiwei is not an ordinary foreigner. His special status leads to higher requirements for the review.
In this era, the identity of the Chinese people is not a help, but a resistance.
Then, Thomson smiled and said:
"Of course, once the general theory of relativity was released, the Royal Society no longer had any worries."
"If you can't even get in, Bruce, then I guess. No one will want to join the Royal Society in the future."
"This will greatly affect the authority and impartiality of the society."
"So you can rest assured that your status as an academician is certain."
"When the time comes, you will still have to give academic speeches, but these are all trivial matters to you."
After listening to Thomson's analysis, Li Qiwei smiled modestly.
This is the legendary way to prove the Tao by force.
No matter what rules you worry about, as long as my results are big enough, I can break all constraints.
If college students can achieve a breakthrough in controllable nuclear fusion, they will be rated as 985 professors.
"Professor, don't worry, I will prepare it."
"Whether it succeeds or not, I will thank you for your efforts."
Thomson suddenly sighed:
"Hey, it's a pity that Bruce is not British. Otherwise, you can fight for the president of the Royal Society."
"Even"
Thomson stopped talking because he knew Ridgway's determination.
Li Qiwei smiled and said: "Haha, Professor, I think you are likely to be the next president."
In real history, Thomson will succeed Crewe in 1915 Max, serves as President of the Royal Society.
Thomson was startled, then laughed.
“I’m ready to retire.”
"I have made an agreement with Rutherford to let him take over as the director of the Cavendish Laboratory when I retire."
"Continue to develop the laboratory."
Li Qiwei smiled and said: "Well, Rutherford is the most suitable."
After the master and apprentice finished their conversation, they walked towards the lecture venue together.
Li Qiwei delivered a keynote speech under the attention of all teachers and students of Cambridge University.
The title is: "Beauty and Physics."
Li Qiwei said in his speech:
“The principles of physics have its own structure.”
“This structure is wonderful.”
“ People at different levels find beauty in different ways.”
"Take the rainbow as an example."
"A painter who does not understand physics will think that the rainbow itself is a representative of beauty."
"It appears after the rain, symbolizing rebirth, beauty, etc. and other concepts.”
“But a physics student knows that the rainbow is caused by the refraction of sunlight by water droplets.”
“Different wavelengths of light have different refractive indexes, so the sun. The emitted white light is broken up to form a rainbow ”
"He felt the beauty of refraction of light."
"However, for more advanced physicists, the cause and nature of refraction are what fascinates them the most."
"Why does light refract and reflect? With Maxwell's equations, physicists know the root cause."
"This is a higher level of beauty."
"In addition, Different physicists have different views and feelings about beauty, which leads to different research styles.”
"For example, some people study the wave nature of light, and some people study the particle nature of light."
"But I am different. I study the wave-particle duality of light."
"This forms Different research directions."
"But no matter which direction, it is the observation and pursuit of beauty."
"This is the most precious personal charm and wealth of physicists."< br>
"Except for physics, this is true for all disciplines."
"So I hope that everyone here has a pair of eyes that discover beauty."
"Academics are a very interesting thing It’s something, isn’t it?”
Wow!
The wonderful speech won thunderous applause from the teachers and students present.
Everyone was impressed by Li Qiwei's gentlemanly temperament.
His thoughts are so profound, his views are so novel, and his angles are so strange.
The boss is indeed a boss!
“Professor Bruce’s speeches are really different.” “He can always use the most understandable language and explain the most profound truths in simple terms.”
"Although I study history, I seem to be able to understand it."
"This is the style of a master. Professor Bruce has reached the state of taking things lightly and returning to nature."
After the speech, The University of Cambridge officially hired Li Qiwei as a lifelong honorary professor at the University of Cambridge.
It means that as long as Li Qiwei is alive, he will always be a professor at Cambridge University.
The speech was a complete success.
However, Li Qiwei can't rest yet because he has another game ahead of him.
After bidding farewell to everyone in Thomson, Li Qiwei went directly to Manchester University of Technology.
Rutherford is already looking forward to it.
February 5, 1913.
At the invitation of Rutherford, Li Qiwei gave a speech at Manchester Polytechnic University.
It’s different from the lectures at Cambridge University.
In this speech, Li Qiwei mainly used his own experience as a template to share anecdotes about scientific research.
And proposed several effective research methods, which won praise from everyone.
After the speech, Manchester Polytechnic University imitated Cambridge University.
First, Li Qiwei was awarded an honorary doctorate, and then the appointment certificate of an honorary professor was issued.
It can be said that it is done in one step.
Li Qiwei suddenly thought that, looking at it this way, Princeton University still owes him an honorary doctorate.
Symbolically, a doctorate is more valuable than a professorial title.
Because a person can be a professor in any school, but there is only one school where he can graduate with a doctorate.
No wonder there was a big shot in the Republic of China who wanted so many honorary doctorates.
Li Qiwei is not willing to lag behind and wants to surpass the big guys.
Then Rutherford took Li Qiwei to visit his laboratory and happily showed off:
"Bruce, look, now my laboratory is the world's top atomic It’s a research laboratory.”
“I believe it won’t be long before a large number of results can be produced.”
Li Qiwei was amazed as he watched.
The instruments and equipment in Rutherford's laboratory were even more advanced than those in Cavendish.
And the configuration is more reasonable and very professional.
No wonder Professor Thomson can trust Cavendish to him.
Being a laboratory director is not just about personal research ability.
A variety of other qualities should also be considered, such as teaching ability, management ability, communication ability, etc.
It's clear that Rutherford is a top talent no matter how you look at it.
"Awesome, Rutherford."
"I have to admit that although you are not as good as me academically, when it comes to building a laboratory, I am not as good as you."
A group of Rutherford's assistants and students were all around, smiling with their lips pursed.
Professor Bruce is indeed as rumored, and he has a very good relationship with Professor Rutherford.
This kind of joke is not something just anyone can make.
Although Professor Rutherford was calm and casual in front of students, he would never be like that in front of Li Qiwei.
"Come, Bruce, I will introduce you to one of my new students."
"Chadwick, come here."
A man in the crowd looked The students, who were only in their early 20s, stood up with excitement on their faces.
He is tall and handsome.
In future generations, people with such conditions will never learn physics.
After Chadwick was named, he was shaking with excitement.
As a student in the Department of Physics, Li Qiwei was his biggest idol and his lifelong goal.
Rutherford smiled and said: "Bruce, this young man is amazing."
"I have a hunch that he will achieve outstanding achievements in the future."
Li Qiwei looked at Chadwick curiously, with a smile on his face.
Of course he knows what results the other party will achieve.
In real history, Chadwick won the 1935 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the neutron in 1932.
A real boss!
Moreover, the discovery of neutrons was an important part of the birth of the atomic bomb and was of far-reaching significance.
There is another interesting fact about Chadwick.
During World War I, Chadwick was imprisoned as a prisoner in Germany due to the feud between Britain and Germany.
But because he is a scientist, he receives preferential treatment.
But he had nothing to do in the prison camp and was so idle.
Later, another captured young British officer, Ellis, came to the prisoner camp.
So Chadwick began to explain physics to Ellis enthusiastically.
After the war, Ellis changed careers and became a physicist studying atoms
Probably he was influenced by Chadwick.
Later, after negotiations with German scientists, they believed that scientists should not be coerced by the war.
Scientists must have their own rights.
As a result, Chadwick obtained the right to build a laboratory in the prison camp to specialize in studying radioactivity
He was not released.
It’s really weird.
It was not until the end of the war that Chadwick regained his freedom.
Therefore, except for a few ambitious elements, almost all scientists around the world are anti-war.
Wars between countries will not affect their respect for science and each other.
With these thoughts in his mind, Li Qiwei stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "Hello, Chadwick."
Chadwick's mouth was dry and his face was flushed, he quickly stretched out his hand He held up his hands and said excitedly:
"Hello, Professor Bruce."
"I'm so excited to see you."
No matter how awesome the boss is, he is still a fanboy in front of Li Qiwei at this moment.
Even if Chadwick wins the Nobel Prize in the future, he will still be a fanboy.
It’s just that I became a big fan from a young fanboy.
Li Qiwei smiled and asked casually:
"Professor Rutherford is very optimistic about you. What is your research topic?"
Chadwick said excitedly: "I have been studying the radioactivity of atoms recently."
Li Qiwei encouraged He said: "Yes, work hard and surpass your mentor in the future."
Chadwick touched his head sheepishly, feeling very happy.
With his status, if he were not a student of Rutherford, he would never be able to come into contact with Li Qiwei in this life.
Not to mention getting guidance from Ridgway.
This is the role of teachers and platforms.
Those top academic leaders have resources that are beyond the imagination of casual cultivators.
Even in later generations, if there is a big academician in the research team, there is almost no need to worry about funding.
Instead, consider how to spend the money.
Because you can't spend all the money, you will fail the final exam.
At this time, Rutherford smiled and said: "Okay, Bruce, you have to tell the geniuses in my laboratory some useful information."
"If you don't get it today, Come out with something from the bottom of the box, and I won't let you go."
Everyone laughed.
Next, Li Qiwei gave speeches at several British universities.
His connections in the scientific field are simply too vast.
Almost all well-known universities have his friends and acquaintances.
In order to attract more people to the City of Science in the future, Li Qiwei also welcomes all comers.
And he can also get a bunch of honorary doctorate titles, which is very interesting.
Li Qiwei’s humorous yet professional and profound speech style has been sought after by countless people.
Some people have even begun to collect his speeches and compile them into a book, which has become the best-selling popular science book in the field of science.
After giving lectures at universities in the UK, Li Qiwei began to prepare for a global tour.
He will return to Borneo early next year, so he will take advantage of this period to make as many appearances as possible.
On the one hand, he accumulated fame and on the other hand, he promoted his city of science.
At this moment, news came from the Royal Society.
(End of this chapter)