Grosseteste and the Harp

Over dinner on Thursday, Mike treated us to a reading a 14th century moralising poem, celebrating Grosseteste’s love of the harp, the virtues with which he associated it, and the symbolism to which it was ascribed. The poem appeared in the 1303 Handlyng Synne, by Robert Manning of Bourne/Robert de Brune.

Sound Medieval and Sound Modern: Reading the De generatione sonorum

As Tom’s earlier post indicated, the collaborative reading sessions on the De generatione sonorum exceeded our expectations. We get through the whole of the text over the course of the three sessions, but made substantial progress in establishing the reading of the text, and, as we have done time and again, enjoyed collectively identifying and following theContinue reading “Sound Medieval and Sound Modern: Reading the De generatione sonorum”

Sound Medieval and Sound Modern: Reflections on the Mahfouz Forum

It is two weeks since our workshop meeting in Oxford, as part of the Pembroke College Mahfouz Forum, and, as Tom and Ulrike’s posts demonstrate, it has inspired a great deal of thinking and reflection. The Ordered Universe team were extremely grateful to the Mahfouz Forum for funding the workshop, and allowing us to inviteContinue reading “Sound Medieval and Sound Modern: Reflections on the Mahfouz Forum”

Grosseteste’s ‘scientific’ treatises – reflecting on principles of investigation

One of the unifying themes across Grosseteste’s ‘scientific’ treatises is that he carefully observed the natural world around him and furthermore assumed that there should be a set of fundamental, universally applicable principles explaining the ordered complexity with which he was confronted. For Grosseteste creation was an act of divine generosity, an overflowing of God’sContinue reading “Grosseteste’s ‘scientific’ treatises – reflecting on principles of investigation”

What a wonderful world – aha-moments triggered by insights into a medieval thinker’s mind

In the aftermath of Ordered Universe gatherings I find myself time and again struck by how little appreciation I normally give to the complexity of the natural world. So many fundamental properties of the physical universe I usually take for granted, without even giving it a thought that someone would have some sort of explanatoryContinue reading “What a wonderful world – aha-moments triggered by insights into a medieval thinker’s mind”

Grosseteste goes public: disseminating medieval and modern science

The Mahfouz Forum on Grosseteste’s De generatione sonorum (On the generation of sound) culminated in a set of public lectures held in the Pichette Auditorium of Pembroke College. With this having been the third time that I got to enjoy being part of an Ordered Universe gathering, I had heard before some elements of theseContinue reading “Grosseteste goes public: disseminating medieval and modern science”

Chladni Plates and the Generation of Sounds

One of the most striking elements in a workshop which was full of them, was the demonstration of sound generation thought the Chladni plates built, mastered and played by Clive Siviour, Engineering Fellow at Pembroke. A lovely moment of humanities and science dialogue came over the question as to what a Chladni plate is: designedContinue reading “Chladni Plates and the Generation of Sounds”

On the Generation of Sounds

Our next workshop in the Ordered Universe series is just around the corner,beginning next week on Wednesday October 1st (with a meeting for the core team), and then a two-day workshop on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd, with a more relaxed Saturday morning. We are delighted that this workshop forms part of the Mahfouz InterdisciplinaryContinue reading “On the Generation of Sounds”

The Times Higher Education Awards: Ordered Universe

We’re very pleased and proud with the news that the Times Higher Education Awards, 2014 includes the Ordered Universe project on the shortlist for Research Project of the Year. Nominated by Durham University, the project is one of six to be shortlisted. The winners will be announced  on Thursday 27th November, at a ceremony which takes place at theContinue reading “The Times Higher Education Awards: Ordered Universe”

Institute of Physics, International Conference on the History of Physics

The Institute of Physics, in collaboration with the EPS  History of Physics Group has organised an International Conference on the History of Physics, which takes place in Cambridge, at Trinity College, September 4th-5th. The  conference is the inaugural for a whole series dedicated to all aspects of the history of physics. The leading theme forContinue reading “Institute of Physics, International Conference on the History of Physics”