Melo e Simas, the portuguese astronomer who tested Einstein?
Professor Ana Isabel Simões
Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e
Tecnologia (CIUHCT) and
Faculty of Sciences University of Lisbon
Unknown from many and known by few as the portuguese who tested Einstein, Melo e Simas was much more than the only astronomer who dared to confirm the bending of light trajectories, one of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Verified initially on the 29th of May 1919 by Eddington, Melo e Simas conceived an alternative method do do it. But how fair is it to reduce his life to this episode? In this presentation we will discuss which other scientific project did he cherished and how did he conceived the relations between astronomy and society.
Ana Simões is an historian of sciences and full professor at FCUL and co-coordinator of the Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e Tecnologia (CIUHCT). Besides being an expert in the history of quantum chemistry, her publications and activity have been conducted by revealing several aspects of the history of sciences in Portugal between the 18th and 20th centuries. More recently, she has focused on science in Lisbon, 1870-1940.
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