Lincoln Wolfenstein: Aspen, Physics, and the Power of Connection | Legacy Conversations

Описание: Join physicist Lincoln Wolfenstein as he recounts the origin story of the Aspen Center for Physics and his pivotal role in launching a now world-renowned institution. A key contributor from its very first summer in 1962, Wolfenstein shares how a small group of researchers—armed with an idea, a few connections, and a lot of determination—created a unique collaborative environment in the mountains of Colorado.

Through candid stories, he reflects on the early challenges, the excitement of spontaneous collaborations, and the scientific breakthroughs sparked by casual conversations at picnic tables. His experiences reveal how a community of physicists, many with no administrative background, built something enduring—and how that spirit still echoes today.

🔍 Highlights:
🔹 The bootstrap beginnings of the Aspen Center for Physics in the early 1960s
🔹 How a letter campaign brought top physicists to Aspen before it officially existed
🔹 Memories of Aspen as a dusty, informal mountain town with no condos or traffic lights
🔹 Why Fermilab’s early involvement was a turning point for the Center’s visibility
🔹 The origin of the Paschos-Wolfenstein relation—still cited in physics today
🔹 Reflections on early collaborations, including with Ernest Henley and Dick Slansky
🔹 Thoughts on how the informal, unstructured atmosphere fueled scientific discovery
🔹 The personal side: how Aspen shaped his family's lives for generations

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This video was recorded as part of the Oral History Project by Bernice Durand on August 7, 2006.

Learn more about Aspen Center for Physics: https://aspenphys.org/
Learn more about Lincoln Wolfenstein: https://aspenphys.org/people/lincoln-...

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