"Revisiting the Early History of `Sprite’ Observations." an interview with Geoff McHarg
"Revisiting the Early History of `Sprite’ Observations." an interview with Geoff McHarg "Revisiting the Early History of `Sprite’ Observations." an interview with Geoff McHarg "Revisiting the Early History of `Sprite’ Observations." an interview with Geoff McHarg

"Revisiting the Early History of `Sprite’ Observations." an interview with Geoff McHarg

Recorded February 19, 2019 Archived February 19, 2019 15:14 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id: APP615152

Description

Sprites are electrical discharges like lightning, but up in the middle atmosphere. Having only been in the scientific literature since the 1990s, sprites captured Geoff McHarg’s imagination while observing the Aurora in Alaska. Perfect for a guy whose view of science is that the best observations are made when you’re looking for something else. You also never know where you're going in science, which is where the fun is.

Physics, in particular, fit Geoff’s particular form of ADD and need for open, creative thinking. He has no problem telling his students when he doesn’t know how something works. ‘Any problem can be solved with 10 minutes of clear thinking and your job is to find the 10 minutes’.”And, don’t tell anyone, but he’d do his job for free if he had to. (Recorded 12 December 2018)

Participants

  • Geoff McHarg
  • Greg Roth
  • AGU Narratives

Interview By