The History of Physics in Cuba (Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science Book 304)

This book brings together a broad spectrum of authors, both from inside and from outside Cuba, who describe the development of Cuba's scientific system from the colonial period to the present. It is a unique documentation of the self-organizing power of a local scientific community engaged in scientific research on an international level. The first part includes several contributions that reconstruct the different stages of the history of physics in Cuba, from its beginnings in the late colonial era to the present. The second part comprises testimonies of Cuban physicists, who offer lively insights from the perspective of the actors themselves. The third part presents a series of testimonies by foreign physicists, some of whom were directly involved in developing Cuban physics, in particular in the development of teaching and research activities in the early years of the Escuela de Fisica. The fourth part of the volume deals with some of the issues surrounding the publishing of scientific research in Cuba. Cuba's recent history and current situation are very controversial issues. Little is known about the development and status of higher education and scientific research on the island. However, Cuba has one of the highest proportions in the world of people with a university degree or doctorate and is known for its highly developed medical system. This book focuses on a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of one specific scientific discipline: physics in Cuba. It traces the evolution of an advanced research system in a developing country and shows a striking capacity to link the development of modern research with the concrete needs of the country and its population. A little known aspect is the active participation of several "western" physicists and technicians during the 1960s, the role of summer schools, organized by French, Italian, and other western physicists, as well as the active collaboration with European universities. Read more... Abstract: The History of Physics in Cuba Read more... Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 A Short Introduction to this Volume....Pages 3-7 The Cuban “Exception”: The Development of an Advanced Scientific System in an Underdeveloped Country....Pages 9-50 Cuba: A Short Critical Bibliographic Guide....Pages 51-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 The Teaching of Physics in Cuba from Colonial Times to 1959....Pages 57-106 Mathematics and Physics in Cuba Before 1959: A Personal Recollection....Pages 107-113 A Comprehensive Study of the Development of Physics in Cuba from 1959....Pages 115-234 Accomplishments in Cuban Physics (up to 1995)....Pages 235-245 Physics at the University of Oriente....Pages 247-260 The Training of Physics Teachers in Cuba: A Historical Approach....Pages 261-268 Can Universities Develop Advanced Technology and Solve Social Problems?....Pages 269-276 Front Matter....Pages 277-277 The Rise and Development of Physics in Cuba: An Interview with Hugo Pérez Rojas in May 2009....Pages 279-284 An Interview with Professor Melquíades de Dios Leyva, December 2008....Pages 285-288 Experimental Semiconductor Physics: The Will to Contribute to the Country’s Economic Development....Pages 289-293 Cuban Techno-physical Experiments in Space....Pages 295-300 Superconductivity in Cuba: Reaching the Frontline....Pages 301-306 The Physics of Complex Systems in Cuba....Pages 307-313 Magnetic Resonance Project 35-26-7: A Cuban Case of Engineering Physics and Biophysics....Pages 315-322 Nanotechnologies in Cuba: Popularization and Training....Pages 323-328 Physics Studies at the University of Havana....Pages 329-338 Physics and Women: A Challenge Being Successfully Met in Cuba....Pages 339-349 Front Matter....Pages 351-351 The Beginning of Semiconductor Research in Cuba....Pages 353-356 Andrea Levialdi in Memoriam....Pages 357-359 The Andrea Levialdi Fellowship....Pages 361-363 A Witness to French-Cuban Cooperation in Physics in the 1970s....Pages 365-379 My Collaboration with Cuban Physicists....Pages 381-386 Scientific Cooperation Between the German Academy of Sciences in Berlin (DAW) and Cuba in the 1960s and 1970s....Pages 387-393 A Beautiful Story....Pages 395-397 The Current State of Physics in Cuba: A Personal Perspective....Pages 399-401 Engaging Cuban Physicists Through the APS/CPS Partnership....Pages 403-405 A Perspective on Physics in Cuba....Pages 407-411 Cuban/US Research Interactions Since 1995....Pages 413-416 Viva La Ciencia: Cuba’s Creative Scientists Aim to Make Knowledge Their Country’s Sugar Substitute....Pages 417-420 Front Matter....Pages 421-421 Physics in Cuba from the Perspective of Bibliometrics....Pages 423-437 Contemporary Cuban Physics Through Scientific Publications: An Insider’s View....Pages 439-446 This Book Brings Together A Broad Spectrum Of Authors, Both From Inside And From Outside Cuba, Who Describe The Development Of Cuba's Scientific System From The Colonial Period To The Present. It Is A Unique Documentation Of The Self-organizing Power Of A Local Scientific Community Engaged In Scientific Research On An International Level. The First Part Includes Several Contributions That Reconstruct The Different Stages Of The History Of Physics In Cuba, From Its Beginnings In The Late Colonial Era To The Present. The Second Part Comprises Testimonies Of Cuban Physicists, Who Offer Lively Insights From The Perspective Of The Actors Themselves. The Third Part Presents A Series Of Testimonies By Foreign Physicists, Some Of Whom Were Directly Involved In Developing Cuban Physics, In Particular In The Development Of Teaching And Research Activities In The Early Years Of The Escuela De Fisica. The Fourth Part Of The Volume Deals With Some Of The Issues Surrounding The Publishing Of Scientific Research In Cuba. Cuba's Recent History And Current Situation Are Very Controversial Issues. Little Is Known About The Development And Status Of Higher Education And Scientific Research On The Island. However, Cuba Has One Of The Highest Proportions In The World Of People With A University Degree Or Doctorate And Is Known For Its Highly Developed Medical System. This Book Focuses On A Comprehensive Overview Of The History Of The Development Of One Specific Scientific Discipline: Physics In Cuba. It Traces The Evolution Of An Advanced Research System In A Developing Country And Shows A Striking Capacity To Link The Development Of Modern Research With The Concrete Needs Of The Country And Its Population. A Little Known Aspect Is The Active Participation Of Several Western Physicists And Technicians During The 1960s, The Role Of Summer Schools, Organized By French, Italian, And Other Western Physicists, As Well As The Active Collaboration With European Universities. Angelo Baracca, Jürgen Renn, And Helge Wendt, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References. This book brings together a broad spectrum of authors, both from inside and from outside Cuba, who describe the development of Cuba's scientific system from the colonial period to the present. It is a unique documentation of the self-organizing power of a local scientific community engaged in scientific research on an international level. The first part includes several contributions that reconstruct the different stages of the history of physics in Cuba, from its beginnings in the late colonial era to the present. The second part comprises testimonies of Cuban physicists, who offer lively insights from the perspective of the actors themselves. The third part presents a series of testimonies by foreign physicists, some of whom were directly involved in developing Cuban physics, in particular in the development of teaching and research activities in the early years of the Escuela de Física . The fourth part of the volume deals with some of the issues surrounding the publishing of scientific research in Cuba. Cuba’s recent history and current situation are very controversial issues. Little is known about the development and status of higher education and scientific research on the island. However, Cuba has one of the highest proportions in the world of people with a university degree or doctorate and is known for its highly developed medical system. This book focuses on a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of one specific scientific discipline: physics in Cuba. It traces the evolution of an advanced research system in a developing country and shows a striking capacity to link the development of modern research with the concrete needs of the country and its population. A little known aspect is the active participation of several “western” physicists and technicians during the 1960s, the role of summer schools, organized by French, Italian, and other western physicists, as well as the active collaboration with European universities. This book focuses on a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of one specific scientific discipline: physics in Cuba. It traces the evolution of an advanced research system in a developing country and shows a striking capacity to link the development of modern research with the concrete needs of the country and its population. A little known aspect is the active participation of several western physicists and technicians during the 1960s, the role of summer schools, organized by French, Italian and other western physicists, as well as the active collaboration with European universities. Cuba s recent history and current situation are very controversial issues. Little is known about the development and status of higher education and scientific research on the island. However, Cuba has one of the highest proportions in the world of people with a university degree or doctorate and is known for its highly developed medical system.