The Longitude Problem With Dr. Shashi Kanbur Featured As Part Of Maritime Museum’s History Lecture Series

by Contributor | October 24, 2024 2:54 pm

OSWEGO – The H. Lee White Maritime Museum is pleased to present “The Longitude Problem” with Dr. Shashi Kanbur as part of their fall History Lecture Series scheduled for Tuesday, November 5^th at 6:00 pm.

In the 1700’s, the predominant scientific and technological problem was knowing one’s longitude at sea: this was the key to successful navigation in an age when exploration was the key to personal and national success. This lecture will tell the story of John Harrison who developed a mechanical solution to this problem – a clock that could keep accurate time at sea, this revolutionized sea faring and had an important impact on global history. It’s also the story of how science works in a social context, encompassing human emotions such as jealousy and greed but also determination, perseverance and the quest for truth.

Dr. Kanbur is a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at SUNY Oswego, teaching a wide range of courses from introductory physics and astronomy to cosmology and general relativity.  He has published over 80 papers in the leading peer reviewed journals internationally.  His main research interests center around stellar pulsation and evolution, cosmology, and the extra-galactic distance scale.  He is a theorist who has recently dabbled in data analysis and observations, with research funded by NASA/HST, the National Science Foundation, and the American Astronomical Society.

The Maritime Museum’s History Lecture Series is offered for free and is open to the public.  The Museum and Treasure Chest Gift Shop are open daily, 1-5pm, on the West 1^st St. Pier in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District.  For more on this or other programs, contact the Museum at 315-342-0480 or visit hlwmm.org[1].

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