Sunday, August 19, 2007
Filippenko's Universe
I've been re-viewing the Filippenko lectures on astronomy at Berkeley. Alex Filippenko's team identified the phenomenon that is now called Dark Energy. He is an observational astronomer. It is rare for someone who is really doing it with his hands, as it were, to also be so fine a teacher. Partly I'm watching again because the subject is so thrilling; partly because he is a brilliant teacher.
I watched the last few lectures of the series first. You could say I watched the end to see the beginning: the last lectures are about the very beginnings of all things -- the birth of the universe. Awesome and intriguing, unknown in many aspects, and so it will probably remain, what we do know is stirring, challenging the best of our imaginations.
I was surprised Filippenko gave so much credence to string theory and multiverse conceptions because they seem to me little more than well-crafted mathematical models that are untestable and therefore not science. But he's the scientist, so maybe there is something there...
Filippenko described himself as a nerdy kid and implied he was an outsider. Now he is a great teacher, a well-known scientist and has captive classes which accept his eccentricity -- no ridicule now for the once outsider. At the end of the series he gets misty, offering a rousing affirmation of the wonder of the universe and also providing well-meant advice about seeking your dream -- not solely focusing on acquisition and money. The students responded with extended applause for this warm, bright man. Filippenko said in parting that he loves his students but I wondered if it was more that he loved his life. He is a happy guy.