The E=mc2 Lectures

Professor Tom Barnes from The University of Auckland explains the confused state-of-being of Schrodinger's cat and other mysteries of Quantum physics.

Richard Hall, Phoenix Astronomical Society and Dr Lesley Hall, Victoria University, bring their own theoretical perspectives to a discussion of this complex man.

Professor Paul Callaghan from the MacDiarmid Institute traverses historical themes surrounding the atom, as well as touching on the new challenges of the 21st century.

Dr Hamish Campbell, Geological and Nuclear Sciences/Te Papa, discusses a number of exciting earth science research projects: the age of New Zealand's oldest rocks, the origin of New Zealand's oldest sedimentary rocks, the age of the New Zealand land surface, the age of the Chatham Islands, the characterisation of New Zealand nephrite (pounamu) on the basis of age, and not least, the age of the Earth itself.

John Stenhouse, Department of History, Otago University, shows why the 'science versus religion' interpretation doesn't adequately explains either the Galileo affair, or the general historical relationship between science and Christianity. Taking listeners from seventeenth century Italy to the Darwinian debates in modern NZ, he illuminates a far richer, more complex and more interesting past. Along the way, he challenges certain popular modern myths and legends.

The smooth functioning of an ordered society depends in part on the possession of a technology which can measure the passage of time, and of a calendar by means of which a society can organise its activities. Associate Professor Robert Hannah, Otago University,  examines the different means of time-keeping which have been developed by various societies in ancient Europe.

Dr Visser, Victoria University of Wellington, explains key features of the big bang in clear language and relates them to Einstein's miracle years of 1905 and 1915.