Versatility of Christiaan Huygens
Description
Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) was undoubtedly the most versatile scholar of the Golden Age. His name was indelibly linked to light theory, pendulum clockwork and the discovery of Saturn's moon and ring. However, it did not stop there. Magic lanterns, air pumps, planetariums, probability theory, carriages, microtonal music, lens grinding machines, even a gunpowder engine and springy sandals - like no other, Huygens was able to interweave theoretical reflections and practical ingenuity.
In this presentation, the speaker will reflect on Huygens' countless discoveries and inventions. The creations will be placed in their seventeenth-century background, with the common thread being the surviving instruments and working drawings. By focusing not only on the great achievements, but also on the seemingly futile discoveries, some broader lines come to the surface, and thus a more nuanced picture of Huygens' science emerges. Finally, it briefly discusses how Huygens' legacy writings served as inspiration for reconstructing his inventions, in the exhibition `Inventive' at Museum Boerhaave
10.30:00 Building open: reception with coffee
11:00 Lecture "Versatility of the scholar Christiaan Huygens" by Tiemen Cocquyt
11:45 Pause
12:15 Continuation of lecture with concluding discussion
12:45 End of meeting
Speaker(s)
Tiemen Cocquyt (1981) swapped Ghent for the Netherlands to immerse himself in the heritage of the sciences. In Utrecht, he studied Physics and `History of Science'. He also spent considerable time among the collection of the University Museum, where he worked as assistant curator. For several years, he has been a curator at Museum Boerhaave, the Rijksmuseum for the History of Science in Leiden. His area of interest includes the natural science instruments of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with a particular interest in the history of optics and physics demonstration collections
Location
Science Centre, Mijnbouwstraat 120,
2628 RX Delft
Organiser
History of Technology
Histechnica
Name and contact details for information
Further information from L.A. Hissink at the e-mail address below.