Einstein in Hong Kong, April 18 - August 31, 2011
Conference on "Cosmology since Einstein", May 30 to June 1, 2011
This year’s cosmology conference, held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is the probably most exciting event in cosmology in Asia. The international group of participants will gather at this event, sharing experiences and knowledge frame worked by numerous presentations held by chosen speakers and experts in their fields of interest.
Welcome by Tony F. Chan, President of HKUST Lecture by Prof. Adam Amara, ETH Zurich
Lecture by Dr. Peter Jenni, CERN Geneva Audience at the conference
all participants of the conference on cosmology since Einstein
Visiting Scholars Science Lectures by Prof. Ott and Prof. Fang, April 30, 2011
The lectures, held by by Prof. Hans Rudolf Ott and Prof. Zaiqing Fang, had been a great success, as well as the ongoing exhibition at the Science Museum Hong Kong. The first lecture by Prof. Ott “Einstein’s Years in Switzerland – and beyond” started with the explaining why Einstein, born in Germany, decided to emigrate to Switzerland, then covers his high-school education in Aarau, his studies at the Federal Polytechnical School in Zurich, the difficult transition to professional life and his rescue in Berne. It then describes the life and work of Einstein in Berne, emphasizing the annus mirabilis 1905 and continues with the transition to his academic career in 1909, resulting in 3 professorships in Zurich and Prague over the next 6 years. It describes his main scientific interests during that time, explains why Einstein left Switzerland and reviews his scientific accomplishments in Berlin and his rise to an internationally known figure, an early pop star. It concludes with a brief account of his later years.
The second lecture by lecture by Prof. Zaiqing Fang “ Einstein and Creativity in Science” was about the factors in society, education and in the personal development contribute to a “creative” scientific mind. He traces the creative development of the symbol figure of today’s science, Einstein, and his extraordinary trajectory in the science world: from a researcher working at the margins of the science world developing into a central figure of today’s scientific development. Fang questions the possibility of creativity in science today, emphasizing the role of imagination in this process. Both lectures had been attended by more than 200 participants and had been rewarded with grand applause and interest.
Prof. Hans Rudolf Ott Prof. Zaiying Fang
Opening Einstein Exhibition, April 18, 2011
The opening ceremony at the Hong Kong Science Museum was officiated by Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs. Rita Hämmerli-Weschke, Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, Dr. Jakob Messerli, Director of the Historisches Museum Bern, Prof. Tony F. Chan, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Richard R. Ernst, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1991 and Mr. Michael Wong, Chief Curator of Hong Kong Science Museum, and more highly renowned guests.
The public lecture “Our Responsibility in view of a Beneficial Global Future” held by Prof. Richard R. Ernst, Nobel Laureate, emphasized the importance that academic teachers and academic institutions carry in shaping a beneficial future for all global citizens. They are the educators and motivators of the leading heads of future generations in politics, business, and academia. A new spirit shall be developed and spread within the academic community and society that is based on cooperation, foresight, and compassion in order to counterbalance our deadly money-mindedness and our egomaniac cravings for materialistic goods that lead us into the present global disarrays. The best advice that can be given at present is contained in the Imperative of Responsibility by the philosopher Hans Jonas: “Act so that the consequences of your action are compatible with the permanence of genuine human life on Earth.” This is the basis of ultimate sustainability. It is our task to educate future generations of leaders who, hopefully, commit fewer errors than our generation has committed so far.
Prof. Ernst, at the lecture and with students
During the exhibition, shown form April 18, until August 31, 2011, a series of science talks are going to be held by Professor of physics Rudolf Ott (ETH Zürich), Einstein expert Fang Zaiqing (Institute of the History of Natural Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) and other eminent scientists. Other key activities are the academic conference “Cosmology since Einstein”, a series of contemporary music workshops and concerts hosted by HKUST, as well as a writing competition “Letters to Einstein” organized by the Hong Kong Education Bureau.
Lectures program
April 30, 2011, Visiting Scholars Science Lectures
Time: 2:30 pm: Prof. Hans Rudolf Ott (ETH Zürich): Einstein’s Years in Switzerland and Beyond
Time: 4:00 pm: Fang Zaiqing (The Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy
of Sciences): Albert Einstein and Creativity in Science
May 25, 2011, “Albert Einstein” Science Lecture Series, Hong Kong Science Museum
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 pm: KY Wong (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology):
Einstein and the Atomic World
Albert Einsteins famous theories have made many achievements possible, who to us seem selfevident today. TV, CD player, plastics, GPS, solar energy, laser, quantum computer etc. But Einstein did not have in mind the practical usage when he developed his theories. He was a radical and creative thinker.
Einstein in Hong Kong, April – August 2011
The “Albert Einstein Exhibition” is a core program of the Hong Kong Science Museum for celebrating its twentieth anniversary and a key attraction of the “Einstein in Hong Kong” campaign. It is organized jointly by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Education Bureau (EDB), the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, and swissnex China.
In addition to the exhibition itself, there will be a series of science talks featuring Swiss Nobel laureate Richard Ernst (ETH Zürich), professor of physics Rudolf Ott (ETH Zürich), Einstein expert Fang Zaiqing (Institute of the History of Natural Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing) and other eminent scientists during the period of exhibition. Other key activities include the academic conference “Cosmology since Einstein” and a series of contemporary music workshops and concerts hosted by HKUST, as well as a writing competition “Letters to Einstein” organized by the Hong Kong Education Bureau.
http://hk.science.museum/spexh/einstein/en/
March 31, 2011 the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Education Bureau, the Swiss Consulate and swissnex China launched the "Einstein in Hong Kong" program.
The exhibition of Albert Einstein starts on April 18, 2011. 
press conference march 31, 2011
