Promoting the Planck Club (eBook)

DONALD W. BRABEN, PHD, is an honorary professor atUniversity College London, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics,and Founder of Venture Research International Ltd. He spent some 16years in particle physics, followed by spells in the Cabinet Officeand Science Research Council headquarters before beginning his longassociation with Venture Research in 1980. Dr. Braben is the authorof Scientific Freedom: The Elixir of Civilization and PioneeringResearch: A Risk Worth Taking (both from Wiley).

List of Posters ix

Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

Chapter 1
Accidents, Coincidences, and the Luck of the Draw: How BenjaminThompson and Humphry Davy Enabled Michael Faraday to Electrify theWorld 16

Chapter 2
Science, Technology, and Economic Growth: Can Their MagicalRelationships Be Controlled? 27

Chapter 3
Max Planck: A Reluctant Revolutionary with a Hunger of the Soul38

Chapter 4
The Golden Age of Physics 50

Chapter 5
Oswald T. Avery: A Modest Diminutive Introverted ScientificHeavyweight 79

Chapter 6
Barbara McClintock (1902-1992): A Patient, Integrating,Maverick Interpreter of Living Systems 89

Chapter 7
Charles Townes: A Meticulously Careful Scientific Adventurer 99

Chapter 8
Carl Woese: A Staunch Advocate for Classical Biology 110

Chapter 9
Peter Mitchell: A High-Minded Creative and Courageous BioenergeticsAccountant 126

Chapter 10
Harry Kroto: An Artistic and Adventurous Chemist with a Flair forAstrophysics 139

Chapter 11
John Mattick: A Prominent Critic of Dogma and a Pioneer of the IdeaThat Genomes Contain Hidden Sources of Regulation 158

Chapter 12
Conclusions: How We Can Foster Prosperity Indefinitely 174

Appendix 1
Open Letter to Research Councils UK from Donald W. Braben andOthers Published in Times Higher
Education, November 5, 2009 194

Appendix 2
Global Warming: A Coherent Approach 197

References 201

Index 206

"Promoting the Planck Club is a passionate development exploring the proposition that defiant youth, irreverent researchers and liberated universities can foster prosperity indefinitely." (Chemistry in Australia 2016)Promoting the Planck Club is apassionate development exploringthe proposition that defiant youth,irreverent researchers and liberateduniversities can foster prosperityindefinitely.