Longest Physics Lecture in History?

gfrege writes "Perhaps you remember some long physics lectures from your days at school. But as part of a general strike of students at the Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin concerning cuts in funding for the city's universities, some physicists are in the middle of what could be the longest physics lecture in history. It started at noon on Monday, and is planned to run to noon on Thursday. Check out the topics, and if you're in Berlin, come on down. The Babelfish translations of the lecture titles make for some fun reading, too, if you can't make it there yourself."

Comments

I am worried...

[John Seminal]

I live in the USA and I have watched as tuition rates have increased over the past 15 years. I think what this university in Germany is going is very smart. This will increase interest in science and physics. People from the college community will wander into the lectures and listen to professors speak about black holes and quarks. It might inspire a few people to learn more. Meanwhile, in the USA, students will have to find new ways to make money to go to college. Not for inspiration, but as another step needed to get a good job.

Maybe I am way off in thinking from the status quo, but I believe universities have a responsibility to inspire students, not just "sell a product". I believe this because what happens to people during their college time effects all of society, not just the student. The imagination and creativity of these graduates will determine how much we advance with space exploration, computers, and all sorts of technologies. These new graduates just have to dream it. Just look at the past 40 years, and what graduates have accomplished. Good for the physics faculty to have this lecture marithon. I bet they will be helping themselves recruit more students.

Re:Oh YES THEY ARE...

[GrouchoMarx]

I do not understand why country's do not offer free college education for all.

Simple. Because educated people are harder to control. Those in positions of power want those who are not to be easier to control, easier to turn into mindless consumer zombies, easier to get to vote for whoever puts out the best commercials rather than has the best platform, etc.

Universal education challenges the new aristocracy, who believe that you shouldn't get anything unless you can pay through the nose for it. Of course, they can afford to, but no one else can.

And the society goes to hell for it, with them leading the way. Gotta love it.

Americans Students Let Everyone walk all over them

[Cryofan]

American students get tuition raise after tuition raise, and they do nothing. Same thing for American workers--we just bend over and take it. But Europeans know how to organize and act together. That is why they have taken their countries to a place beyond what America is or may ever be. They have free or low cost universities. American students have to go into debt $20K even for a public school education.

American workers now work more hours per year than any other country, and our pay just keeps going down.

Brainwashed and politically isolated by the media, we are each like baby wildebeest stranded midstream in an African river, while the investors, business owners and corporations feast on our carcasses.....