OxNet North East students explored the notion of History with Professor Giles Gasper, Durham University, in this year’s third OxNet Seminar. They started by discussing the question ‘Why study History?’ to which they replied – to learn from the past, because it’s interesting, and perhaps to make predictions about the future. They then explored theContinue reading “The Past is History”
Tag Archives: grosseteste
Science, Imagination and Wonder: Programme
With the Ordered Universe project conference a week away, we are very pleased to present the programme of speakers, exhibitors, and activities. In nine sessions, with two
Inspiring Young Minds with Old Thinking
A blog from Thomas Henderson, Durham University, History undergraduate, and recipient of a Laidlaw Scholarship, attached to the project for the next two years. Last week, the Ordered Universe enjoyed a prominent role in OxNet Access Week summer school at Pembroke College, Oxford. Run under the aegis of Dr Peter Claus, the programme is designedContinue reading “Inspiring Young Minds with Old Thinking”
Back to the roots
During the most recent of the Ordered Universe Symposia, medieval specialists and modern scientists applied their minds to Robert Grosseteste’s De sphera (On the sphere). In this early treatise of his, Grosseteste describes the movements of the heavenly bodies in the firmament according to the observer’s position on earth. The astronomical knowledge available during theContinue reading “Back to the roots”
Ordered Universe goes west
Robert Grosseteste, following the most authoritative texts at his disposal, was convinced that the only land mass of the earth that was actually inhabitable was the part we would now say is bounded by the Atlantic on the west side, and by the Saharan desert to the south. Some representatives of the Ordered UniverseContinue reading “Ordered Universe goes west”
Who was the first real physicist?
A post from Brian Tanner – one of the most common searches we encounter on the Ordered Universe blog is ‘who was the first physicist/scientist’ or variants thereof – Brian offers some options: Perhaps it is because my son is Director of Cross-Curricula Learning at St Albans School, that on Friday March 4th, I foundContinue reading “Who was the first real physicist?”
Book Launch: Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln
A notice of a special event for Philippa Hoskin and the Lincoln Record Society: On Friday 11th Sept. 2015 the Lincoln Record Society will be launching their much anticipated, Robert Grosseteste as Bishop of Lincoln: The Episcopal Rolls 1235-1253. Ed. Philippa M. Hoskin, Pub. Boydell & Brewer. The event is free (including parking) and light refreshment will beContinue reading “Book Launch: Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln”
Visit to Lincoln Cathedral
Medieval Theories – New Interpretations – New Scientist
The New Scientist has a new piece on the De luce paper just out. A lovely discussion of the project and some great comments from Avi Loeb at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge. This is our second feature in the magazine following Michael Brook’s discussion of Grosseteste’s thought on colour. And for many more, we hope, as we explore Grosseteste’sContinue reading “Medieval Theories – New Interpretations – New Scientist”
Recreating a Medieval Universe – the De Luce
We are very excited to announce the full scientific analysis of Grosseteste’s De luce – ‘On Light’ will be published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A within the next month. A pre-submission version is available at the Arxiv site. This takes the form of what we are calling a functional analysis of the treatise: taking Grosseteste’s account of howContinue reading “Recreating a Medieval Universe – the De Luce”