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Read more about Anna Backerra’s fascinating and inspiring lectures. Scientific Assurance and The Magic of Poetry and Music: PHYSICS of LIFE *Lectures *Personal background Contact: Anna Backerra Physics G. Sylvanusstraat 2 7412 DM Deventer The Netherlands annabackerra@gmail.com Physics of life Insights from physics, which so far have only been based on inanimate matter, can be applied successfully to life phenomena. This new perspective is outlined in three series of presentations, incorporating music, illustrations and poems. The presentations range in level from widely accessible to academic. The duration, level and contents can be adapted to suit the target audience. The overview below assumes a breakdown of about 50 minutes before the break, 40 minutes after the break, and a 10 minute question and answer session. A. In the twin model, data from the field of quantum mechanics are linked with human functions in an original way. Surprising insights emerge concerning female and male behavior, labor processes and religion. B. Comparing revolutionary innovations in music and physics, it becomes apparent that these discoveries have been occurring in the same periods for years. A deeper understanding of both disciplines can be achieved through this process. A new tonal system has emerged that offers a harmonic foundation for contemporary music. C. When applied to daily life, a physics-based approach can be a facilitator for supporting personal development in such way that a fresh start can be made. Watch the lectures on... A. The twin model, a physicist’s vision of human behavior: * The intertwined existence * The disconnect between female and male behavior * Working in a rhythmic balance * The lost treasure of Western Christianity * Complementary language: a revolution in scientific thinking B. The link between music and physics: * The historical relationship of music and physics * The flirtation between music and physics in the 20th century * Relative tonality, a musical answer to the theory of relativity C. Starting a new life: * Physics, my personal stepping stone – to musical development … by …. (in the menu) at the top of the page. In the series, “The twin model, a physicist’s vision of human behavior”: Lecture A1: The intertwined existence Clarifies the origins and function of the twin model, providing a general explanation of the complete range of possible applications. Questions which come up for discussion: To what extent is humanity bound by the laws of physics? What does the twin model say about gender differences? What perspectives does it offer for health? What are the limits of the model? A lecture at the higher professional level (a basic secondary school knowledge of physics is sufficient). Can be adapted for pre-university level. Particularly appropriate for social scientists and therapists. ___________________________________________________________ In the series “The twin model, a physicist’s vision of human behavior”: Lecture A2: The disconnect between male and female behavior Following an introduction to the twin model, attention is directed to the consequences for male and female behavior. Questions which come up for discussion: To what extent is the difference in behavior learned? How can balanced development be stimulated? What does the twin model say about homosexuality? According to the model, what would an ideal partner be like? No specific prior knowledge of physics or psychology required. Particularly appropriate for psychologists and feminists. ______________________________________________________________________ In the series “The twin model, a physicist’s vision of human behavior”: Lecture A3: Working in a rhythmic balance Following an introduction to the twin model, attention is directed to insights which arise in regard to daily labor. Questions which come up for discussion: In general, what is a healthy approach to work? How do you handle romance in the workplace? How do you combine motherhood and a career? What sets creative professions apart? No specific prior knowledge of physics or psychology is required. Particularly appropriate for labor experts and ergonomists. ___________________________________________________________________ In the series “The twin model, a physicist's vision of human behavior”: Lecture A4: The lost treasure of Western Christianity A lecture with a religious orientation. Following an introduction to the twin model, the model is contemplated in the context of faith. Questions which come up for discussion: What are the essential differences between Eastern and Western Christianity? Where can you see traces of the twin model in the Bible? What support does this give for religious life? Generally accessible. Some familiarity with Christianity is assumed. ______________________________________________________________________ In the series “The twin model, a physicist’s vision of human behavior”: Lecture A5: Complementary language, a revolution in scientific thinking. In the early days of quantum mechanics, some description of complementarity seemed necessary in order to define the wave-particle duality. At that time, no useful mathematical framework could be constructed. The twin model seems to provide the missing link, from which a complementary language can be inferred. In addition, an alternative derivate of Maxwell’s laws has been found, predicting the existence of the magnetic monopole as impossible. It appears that complementary language gives conceptual basis for a unification theory including gravity. This lecture requires familiarity with mathematics and physics on an academic level. The complete article can be found at this link:<...> ______________________________________________________________________ In the series “The link between music and physics”: Lecture B1: The historical link between music and physics Musical fragments characteristic of the 16th century are played and placed in the context of discoveries from the field of physics. Surprising analogies can be found in the manner in which innovations in both disciplines have followed each other. Keywords include: Gregorian, polyphony, Gesualdo, Galileo, key-note, Newton, gravity, Bach, Beethoven, romanticism, X-rays, time measurement, Debussy, Planck, quanta, Einstein, theory of relativity, Schönberg, dodecaphony, quantum mechanics, Heisenberg. A lecture at the level of higher professional education, in which a basic knowledge of classical music and physics is assumed. ________________________________________________________________________ In the series “The link between music and physics”: Lecture B2: The flirtation between music and physics in the 20th century After a brief historic overview, characteristic musical fragments from 1890 are played, then compared and contrasted with discoveries in physics. Enormous changes in all kinds of fields took place; in the course of the 20th century, composers found answers to the new issues that had arisen. Keywords include: Einstein, theory of relativity, Schönberg, dodecaphony, quantum mechanics, Heisenberg, complementarity, Vermeulen, chaos theory, Cage, Boulez, serialism, aleatorics, Andriessen, computers, Stockhausen, subatomic particles. A lecture at the level of higher professional education, in which a basic knowledge of classical music and physics are assumed. ________________________________________________________________________ In the series “The link between music and physics”: Lecture B3: Relative tonality: a musical answer to the theory of relativity In the second half of the 20th century, audiences often found the numerous musical experiments carried out at the time hard to grasp, because there were no prior references available. Gradually, tools were developed that made it possible to link those fresh perspectives and new notes in a more acceptable context. At the start of the 21st century, Schönberg’s insights and Allen Fort’s set theory were combined by the lecturer in a new harmonic system: relative tonality. Short musical examples will be played. A highly relevant and topical lecture, in which some familiarity with 20th century experimental music is assumed. Particularly appropriate for music students and fans of avant-garde music. _______________________________________________________________________ In the series “Starting a new life”: Lecture C: Physics, my personal stepping stone to musical development A personal account of the journey the lecturer took after encountering obstacles in a career in theoretical physics. Based on personal experience, a number of general principles are inferred, such as: Turning disadvantages into advantages Uncovering hidden talents and dormant desires Composing a personal grammar for life Exploiting old skills to serve new development A surprising and wonderful story, appropriate for anyone who is searching for a new interpretation of daily life. ________________________________________________________________________ Ordering books and CDs: A. Popular scientific book: Het gevlochten bestaan. Het twinmodel: Menselijk gedrag in een nieuw perspectief. (The intertwined existence. The twin model: Human behavior in a new perspective), Kok Agora 1996; paperback,140 pages; ISBN 90 391 0699 1. (Quote not yet available, only available in Dutch) B. CD with original piano compositions: My War-Family (2003) & Piano Sonata (2005) pianist Maarten van Veen; Musica Mundi 2006. Listen to a fragment: C. Dreamlike novel: Serpentines van licht (Serpentines of Light), pub. Servo 1990; paperback, 110 pages; ISBN 90 71918 31 9. (Quote not yet available, only available in Dutch) - Payment structure - Ordering options Personal background: Anna Backerra is a technical physicist and composer. After working for several years on the science staff at the Philips Research Laboratories, she began an independent theoretical study on the principles of quantum mechanics. The results are described in the article “Complementary language as a complete mathematical description of nature”: . One of the practical consequences of her research was the development of the twin model which is described in the popular scientific book Het gevlochten bestaan (‘The Intertwined Existence’). This is the basis for her extension of the principles of physics to life phenomena. The development of physics into music was inspired by writing the dreamlike novel Serpentines van Licht (‘Serpentines of Light’). She performed solo music theater with violin improvisations for children for five years. Afterward she studied composition with David Rowland in Enschede, took a summer course on Schönberg in Vienna with Allen Forte and rounded out her education with Boris Tischenko (St. Petersburg), formerly assistant to Shostakovitsj. Her opera Ulrike Meinhof, based on a libretto by Arnoud Kremers, is nearly complete. In spring 2008, together with the Caravan of Storytellers foundation (“Karavaan der Vertellers”) and the Saint Petersburg Concert Singers chamber choir, conducted by Michail Golikov, she produced and performed in the musical theater production Bridge to Russian Romance. /p>