A Lesson for the Future of Our Science: My Testimony on Lord Patrick M. S. Blackett

"Rich in personal anecdotes, pictures and appendices, the book could appeal to physicists and students who are also interested in the history of science and the human dimension of great scientists." Cern Courier This unique volume contains a tribute to Lord Patrick M S Blackett through the testimony of Professor Antonino Zichichi, who was one of Blackett's pupils in the experiment at the Sphinx Observatory, Europe's highest lab (3580 meters a.s.l.), at Jungfraujoch. The book presents an overview of Blackett's most significant discoveries, such as the so called "vacuum polarization" effect, the first example of "virtual physics" and the "strange particles", that opened a new horizon towards the existence of the subnuclear universe. After discussing the profound implications of Blackett's pioneering contributions to Subnuclear Physics, the book also recalls his deep interest in the promotion of scientific culture. Blackett was firmly convinced that physicists must be engaged directly to let the people outside our labs know what the role of science is in the progress of our civilisation. In particular, according to Blackett and his friend Bertrand Russell, the Manhattan Project was the example of how the new frontiers of science and technology would have been implemented in the future. In this respect, the role of dedicated institutions is discussed, as a new bridge between traditional university teaching and the big projects for the future of science and technology.

This book traces the contribution of a great man Lord Patrick M S Blackett Great Admiral of the British Navy and Nobel Prize for his discovery of the simultaneous production of antielectron-electron pairs but this book traces his contributions towards the foundation of two of the most important scientific institutions in Italy and also his scientific contributions to science.