Back from Foreign Travels

I returned last week from our biennial Math-Physics study-abroad. We (two faculty,  12 students) once again took up the divisive religious question: Who invented calculus? Was in Leibniz as the mathematicians claim, or was it Newton as championed by the physicists?

Our three week class started in Prague where we studied the history and work of Brahe and Kepler--as inspirations for Newton. (And not because The Czech Republic is the birthplace of the best beer in the world.)

We then journeyed to Leipzig and after that, Paris, to concentrate on Leibniz--who called both places home. (What other reason would there be to go to Paris?)

Finally we chunnel-hopped to London and then on to Cambridge to bask in the afterglow of Sir Isaac.

Along the way we visited (and in some cases received lectures) the Czech Astronomical Institute, the Kepler Museum, The Prague Technical Museum, two different libraries at Leipzig University including a presentation of some of their rare books, the French Academy of Sciences, and the Wren Library at Trinity College in Cambridge. (And we punted on the Cam. And partook of Fish 'N Chips and Guinness.)

Oh--our hotel in Paris is haunted. Or so we have been told.