Beaming on the wall of Fronczak Hall, the contemplative face of Albert Einstein gazed down Monday night on an audience of science enthusiasts gathered to celebrate his achievements.
On the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death, and in honor of his "miracle year" 100 years ago, the UB community took part in a worldwide celebration Monday night that lit up the campus from end to end.
The light relay started with the illuminating of UB stadium, followed by the Center for the Arts and Bonner Hall. A line of over 100 participants from Bonner to Fronczak then lit their flashlights one by one, ending the spectacle with a searchlight glowing from the top of Fronczak, right over a projection of Einstein himself.
The UB relay was part of one that spanned the globe, starting at Princeton University, where Einstein was a longtime professor.
Monday's event was one of many celebrating Einstein in what has been dubbed the "Year of Physics." The "miracle year" refers to when Einstein, then only a 26-year-old patent clerk, released three papers on physics that revolutionized the world. Even more incredible, many say, is the fact that his theories have withstood a century of scrutiny and criticism and are still considered correct by the scientific world.
Doreen Wackeroth, an assistant professor in the physics department, said it's no coincidence that Einstein's name is a household one.
"The modern human being wouldn't be what he or she is without Einstein," said Wackeroth, who helped organize the light relay at UB. "I am very much in awe of what he achieved."
One of the relay's main objectives, along many other events this year, was to increase people's interest in physics without making it difficult to understand, Wackeroth said.
"Even as a non-expert, you can discuss and grasp it," Wackeroth said.
Along with the relay, UB's physics department plans to offer other events next semester, according to John Cerne, an assistant physics professor who impersonated Einstein for the event.
"We're trying to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge and imagination," Cerne said. "We'll try to do other things to commemorate this miracle year."
To start its part of the relay, UB received a signal from the Kodak factory in Rochester. Next, buildings across North Campus turned lights mounted on the roof on and off in succession, mimicking the movement of light.
On the ground, people completed their own signal using flashlights and sparklers.
"It's not going at the speed of light, but the speed of people," said James McMillan, a sophomore physics major, making a joke referring to one of Einstein's theories about the finite speed of light.
After it got to Fronczak, the UB signal moved on to South Campus, where it was passed onto SUNY Fredonia. From there, it will move on to Europe.
Many participants said they were impressed with the event and the number of people who showed up.
"I think it's very important for UB to get involved with this event," said Mrynal D'Arcangelo, a sophomore mechanical and aerospace engineering major. "Usually you expect five people to come, but I guess there are more geeks than I thought."
McMillian said many people find physics and science daunting, so they shy away from it. An event like Monday's "makes physics more accessible to the average person," he said. "It's easy for people to participate, so it's a more tangible event."
Wackeroth said she especially likes the connectivity the yearlong celebration has brought to the fields of science.
"I really like the idea of combining the world under the umbrella of Einstein's achievements," Wackeroth said.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
