I had a chance to talk to Jodi tonight. As I’ve mentioned, she is in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, for the “WIN07 Conference”:http://www.saha.ac.in/anp/win07.sinp/win07/index.html. For the last few days, we’ve mostly talked about how she should have pursued more vaccinations before going, and about her water-handling practices. Today, however, the timbre of the conversation changed. It did so in a way that made me remember that I was once optimistic about a diversity of conferences in a variety of countries.
Coming out of graduate school, and seeing the disservice done to immigrant scientists after September 11th, 2001, I felt strongly about making sure that all nations of the world have a chance. I wanted them to have a chance not only to do and experience the scientific process, but creates centers of excellence in their home nations and participate in global facilities sited in other countries. I predicted that India and China would become regional centers for neutrino physics, after seeing some very interesting proposals for neutrino factories from Indian physicists. Whether I was prescient or not, that is certainly coming true.For instance, China is pursing the ambitious “Daya Bay” reactor neutrino experiment.
Jodi’s experiences at the conference have reminded me why it’s so important to have huge conferences like this one in places like India, places where the developing world meets scientific ambition and excellence. Jodi has had a chance to meet a young woman physicist from India, interested in coming to the U.S. to pursue neutrino physics and also curious about how women are regarded in the physics community here in the U.S. She told Jodi that this was the first time she’d met a woman physicist from another country. If this was the first time such an experience had occurred, it’s already clear to me why science needs to shared everywhere.
Places like India, Russia, and China have historical records of excellence in both science and mathematics. However, like many nations on this Earth they have grown and changed, confronted their own culture and history in the context of modern industry, modern trade, and modern politics. Regardless of the differences between nations, one thing is clear: all nations produce excellent scientists. The only thing that is better than meeting excellent scientists is working with them, and huge conferences are a chance to build collaborations, argue about ideas, and promote discussions between people who might never have had the chance to meet.
Sure, I struggled to escape from Russia. Who didn’t. But did I enjoy the conference? Damn right. All these issues of water quality aside, Jodi sounds like she’s having a great time in India.
