[Ucrea] 4/21 Dickson Presentation by Chandra Varma: “Discovery of Superconductivity – Historical and Physical Perspective”

[Cristina Otegui]

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April 6, 2026



To:         UCR Emeriti and Retirees

From:     UCR Retirees’ and Emeriti Associations

Re:*         4/21 Dickson Presentation by Chandra Varma: *“Discovery of
Superconductivity – Historical and Physical Perspective”

The UCR Emeriti (UCREA) and Retirees’ (UCRRA) Associations invites you to
attend the upcoming Edward A. Dickson Emeritus/a Lecture Talk Series. Each
year three retired UCR faculty are awarded Edward A. Dickson Professorships
to support their research, teaching, or public service activities. In the
year following their awards, Dickson Professors give public presentations
of their work.

*“Discovery of Superconductivity – Historical and Physical Perspective"*

*Presenter*: Dickson awardee Chandra Varma | *Date*: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

*Time*: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. | *Location*: In-person at University Extension
Building 1101 in the University Village and Livestreamed via Zoom

*Description*

I will set the scene for the surprising discovery of Superconductivity in
1911, and the simultaneous (but not realized) phenomena of Superfluidity,
by relating what was known and considered important to discover, and what
was unknown in the bubbling but unfermented prior decade. I will talk about
the confusion of great minds when the essential physics, without which
these phenomena could not be understood, was yet to be discovered. Yet with
the right attitude and great leaps of imagination, some of them made
remarkable and enduring contributions, which survive the full understanding
which arrived only in the 1950s and 1960s. Such an understanding has
affected everything subsequent in physics from nuclear physics to particle
physics to cosmology.


* Refreshments will be provided*



*Event Registration*

Thank you to those who have registered! To join *in-person* or through
*livestreaming* the event, please register to receive the event details on
the Retirement Center webpage at:

https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaacFzhTfJR9mrc


*A Special Thank You to Our Co-Sponsor *

UCR Osher

UCR Office of Gift Planning


Please find the invitation flyer attached. We welcome you, your family and
friends to join us!



Sincerely,


UCR Emeriti and Retirees’ Associations

retirees at ucr.edu
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