An exhibition remembers Albert Einstein's visit to Barcelona
“Einstein a Barcelona, 1923” (Einstein in Barcelona, 1923) is the bibliographic exhibition that will be on display at the eighteenth Exhibition of the Historical Collection of the Physics and Chemistry CRAI Library to commemorate the centenary of the visit of the exceptional scientist to this city. The opening ceremony will be presided over by the Rector, Joan Guàrdia, on Wednesday 22 November, at 12 noon in the Aula Magna Enric Cassassas at the faculties of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Barcelona. Among the participants Will be the Dean of the Faculty of Physics, Eugeni Graugés; the President of the Library users committee, Albert Moyano, and the Head of the Library, Isabel Parés.
“Einstein a Barcelona, 1923” (Einstein in Barcelona, 1923) is the bibliographic exhibition that will be on display at the eighteenth Exhibition of the Historical Collection of the Physics and Chemistry CRAI Library to commemorate the centenary of the visit of the exceptional scientist to this city. The opening ceremony will be presided over by the Rector, Joan Guàrdia, on Wednesday 22 November, at 12 noon in the Aula Magna Enric Cassassas at the faculties of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Barcelona. Among the participants Will be the Dean of the Faculty of Physics, Eugeni Graugés; the President of the Library users committee, Albert Moyano, and the Head of the Library, Isabel Parés.
The session will include the performance of the play Revolucionaris, which addresses the social perception of science and scientists, inspired by a little-known episode of Einstein’s visit to Barcelona. This play is written by Professor Enric Pérez-Canals, from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics, and some members of the UB’s Faculty of Physics take part in the staging and performance of the play.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) revolutionized the world of contemporary physics with the publication of articles in 1905 that turned the perception of the universe around us upside down. The famous author of the Theory of Relativity finally accepted one of the repeated invitations from the Mancomunitat de Catalunya (1914-1925) to visit Barcelona, which finally took place in 1923. He was accompanied by Elsa Einstein, his second wife, and was hosted by the engineer, physicist and mathematician Esteve Terradas, professor of Acoustics and Optics at the UB, and the politician Rafael Campalan, director of the Pedagogical Council of the Mancomunitat.
Einstein also visited the UB's Historic Building. He was received by Valentí Carulla i Margenat, the Rector at the time, the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Simón Vila Vendrell, and the Secretary General of the University, Carles Calleja. The newspaper El Noticiero Universal reported on this meeting in its edition of 26 February 1923.
At that time, the public authorities considered that the visit of the prestigious physicist could serve to increase society's interest in scientific activity and, specifically, that it could be useful in promoting the development of science in the country. During his visit, Einstein met scientists, took an interest in Catalan culture, and even exchanged views with students and trade unionists.
Further information here.