J. Robert Oppenheimer, often called ‘the father of the atomic bomb,’ left a legacy that reshaped the 20th century. Physicists and authors Frans Kingma and Machiel Kleemans will discuss the life and work of this brilliant yet contentious physicist, the physics of the most destructive weapon ever created, and the nuclear advancements that continue to shape global power relations and modern warfare today.
The lecture ends at 13:45. It is not possible to leave the room earlier.
As scientific leader and organizational talent of the top-secret Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer directed the development of a weapon that altered modern warfare. His life was marked by extraordinary achievements, but also by controversy as well as deep personal and professional humiliation. Admired for his intellect but suspected of communist sympathies, he was forced to resign as America’s prime nuclear advisor.
This lecture examines Oppenheimer’s controversial role in science and politics, the science of the bomb, and Oppenheimer’s passion for literature and art. It highlights how he became a cultural icon, and how nuclear deterrence has continued to define our world. Connections will be drawn to Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed biopic Oppenheimer, which brought this extraordinary scientist back into the global spotlight.
About the speakers
Dr. Frans Kingma is experimental physicist and radiation protection expert at Utrecht University. For a decade he was head of a radionuclides laboratory of Delft University of Technology, for training and instructions on radiation health care. He is the regular columnist for the Dutch Journal of Physics and has published several literary works (short stories and novels).
Dr. Machiel Kleemans trained as a theoretical physicist and is now a historian of science at the University of Amsterdam. He has worked in crisis management, and on nuclear and radiological safety for the Dutch government. His research focuses on Cold War science and nuclear history.
Together they wrote: Oppenheimer in Focus (Walburgpers, 2025).
After the lecture, it will be possible to purchase the book and have it signed.
Ticket reservation recommended
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SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.