Online diaries demystify physics
Quantum Diaries is a website that follows physicists from around the world as they experience the World Year of Physics 2005. In their own words, in photos, blogs and videos, they tell the real-life stories of real physicists in real time.
The project, set up by the InterAction Collaboration of communicators from particle physics laboratories around the world, is not just about physics; it aims to show what it is to be a physicist. That means that the diarists write about their families, hobbies and interests, as well as their latest research findings and the challenges that face them in their labs.
The diarists, mainly nominated by their home laboratories, represent a cross-section of working physicists, from graduate students to senior researchers. They speak nine languages and represent 15 countries. Outside the lab they are jazz musicians, parents, amateur astronomers, photographers and athletes.
• See http://interactions.org/quantumdiaries.
Extracts from Quantum Diaries
Caolionn O'Connell, graduate student in advanced accelerator technologies, at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC):
"31 January: I have hit a bump in the road, metaphorically speaking. A really big bump, such that even though my car might have lost a wheel, I am hoping it will still drive me to the thesis defense. So it is simple.
The blue and the red curve should be the same. As much as you might squint, look at the graph askew or jump up and down, there is no way those two curves are going to match. The red curve is the simulation and the blue curve is physics. It becomes a moment of concern when your simulations do not obey the laws of physics. Consequently, the many, many hours I have spent baby-sitting computers have been for nothing, nada, zilch. That's right, worthless."
John Ellis, theorist at CERN:
"20 January: Off to London today with my family to receive the Dirac Medal, which was awarded to me by the Institute of Physics at
a swish ceremonial dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London. The photo shows me in a borrowed dinner jacket and 20 Swiss Franc dress shoes.
"Back in 1983, the Institute of Physics awarded me their Maxwell medal, and I almost missed the presentation. However, I was saved by the Falklands war, which was raging at the time. I arrived late for the ceremony, getting there just as the German ambassador was presenting the Born medal. He apologized for having to jump ahead of the Maxwell medal, the reason being that he had to hurry back to his embassy for some urgent war-related message. By the time he had finished, I had finally reached my place and was available to receive my medal."