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The Reith Lectures

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

The Reith Lectures: Robert Oppenheimer - Science and the Common Understanding: Newton: the Path of Light

15/11/1953

Newton: the Path of Light

Robert Oppenheimer - Science and the Common Understanding

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Robert Oppenheimer - Science and the Common Understanding, Newton: the Path of Light

 Professor Robert Oppenheimer explores the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Professor Robert Oppenheimer explores the advancement of scientific knowledge in the first Reith Lecture from his series 'Science and the Common Understanding'.

This year's Reith Lecturer is American theoretical physicist Robert Oppenheimer. He is Professor of Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and was formerly Professor of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. During the Second World War, he became the Director of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory where his role in the Manhattan Project led him to be described as the "father of the atomic bomb". In his Reith lectures entitled 'Science and the Common Understanding', he examines the impact of quantum and atomic theory on society.

In his first lecture entitled 'Newton: the Path of Light', Professor Oppenheimer explores how science has advanced over the years. He considers Man's long journey of discovery, highlighting how Newton's physics and methodologies led to our present rich scientific understanding.  

The Reith Lectures: Robert Oppenheimer - Science and the Common Understanding

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Robert Oppenheimer examines the impact of quantum and atomic theory on society.

The American theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer examines the impact of quantum and atomic theory on the way societies view themselves and others in six Reith lectures.

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