Oral history of British science
Rotblat, Joseph (5 of 40). National Life Stories Collection: General
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Type
sound
Duration
00:30:40
Shelf mark
C464/17
Subjects
Physics
Recording date
1999-07
Interviewees
Rotblat, Joseph, 1908-2005 (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Thompson, Katherine (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 5: Thanks to help from Wertenstein JR got fellowship at Liverpool worth ยน120/year. But he could not take his wife (he got married in 1937). He chose Liverpool instead of Paris because Chadwick was building a cyclotron and he was hoping to help to build it. He left Poland by train for England in April 39. Story of his stop-over in Brussels with a cousin where he managed to save life of cousin's daughter by giving his blood (of same blood group) for transfusion to her. On to London, was tourist for 3 days, on to Liverpool, first impression shock when he saw slums. Describes his digs, difficulties with his English which was based on reading P.G.Woodhouse. Various disappointments, including poor Lab. equipment. 2 departments, teaching and research. JR had to do some teaching first. Talk about Chadwick and first visit to his house. Took all summer to learn English - with help from colleagues.
Description
Nobel Peace Prize-winner and nuclear physicist Joseph Rotblat in conversation about his life and work. A key figure in the development of the atomic bomb, he left the US government's Manhattan Project once it became apparent that Nazi Germany did not have the capability to build a bomb of its own.
Metadata record:
Rotblat, Joseph (5 of 40). National Life Stories Collection: General
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