University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Physics “World Year of Physics” Fall Lecture Series 2005 Celebrating “Einstein’s Miracle Year” in which he published papers establishing the field of quantum mechanics and modifying our understanding of space and time itself. Confirmed Lectures “Quantum Construction: Building the nanotechnology of the future” Prof. Robert Carpick Dept of Engineering Physics, U of Wisconsin-Madison “The Shape of the Universe” Prof. Peter Timbie Dept of Physics, U of Wisconsin-Madison “Quantum Mechanics and the Nature of Reality” Prof. Laura Ruetsche Dept of Philosophy, U of Pittsburgh “The Women of the Manhattan Project” Prof. Ruth Howes Dept of Physics, Marquette University “The Nature of Neutron Stars” Dr. Pat Slane Chandra Science Center, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Other “World Year of Physics Events” can be found at

What was Einstein so famous for anyway? Ask someone who the most famous physicist is and the answer will most probably be “Albert Einstein.” In 1905, Einstein wrote three papers (on light quanta, Brownian motion and the special theory of relativity), which would change the way we looked at physics. Given his iconic status in modern physics, the U.S. decided on “Einstein in the 21st Century” as its theme for the World Year of Physics 2005—the hundredth anniversary of those papers.

What was Einstein so famous for anyway? Miraculous Year In only a few months Einstein wrote three fundamental papers: The first paper was on the Photoelectric Effect. It claimed that light must sometimes behave like a stream of particles with discrete energies, "quanta." Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his discovery of the photoelectric effect. The second paper explained the observation of Brownian Motion. It offered an experimental test for the theory of heat. The third paper described “Special Relativity”, the connection between electromagnetic theory and ordinary motion. In a three-page addition to his paper, Einstein derived his famous equation E=mc 2. [In 1915 Einstein extended his theory to include gravity and created the theory of “General Relativity”.]

Links to find out more about Einstein: Download Einstein’s book from Project Gutenburg Quirks and Quarks CBC Radio Podcast