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Peter Bergmann:The Education of a Physicist

Abstract.

I explore the early life and contributions of Peter Bergmann (1915–2002), focusing on his family background, education, and ideas. I examine how Bergmann’s formative years were shaped by the outspoken influence of his mother, a leading educational reformer; the distinguished reputation of his father, a renowned materials chemist; and his cherished hope of working with Albert Einstein (1879–1955), to whom he eventually became an assistant. Inspired by these and other notable thinkers, Bergmann became an exemplary organizer, educator, and mentor in the fields of general relativity and quantum gravity.

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Correspondence to Paul Halpern.

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Halpern, P. Peter Bergmann:The Education of a Physicist. Phys. perspect. 7, 390–403 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-005-0237-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-005-0237-3

Keywords.

  • Peter Bergmann
  • Albert Einstein
  • general relativity
  • quantum gravity