From Kindertransport Refugee to Physicist: the Life & Archive of Ben Abeles
Tuesday 6th June 2023, 4:00pm
Ben Abeles was born in Austria in 1925 and grew up in Czechoslovakia. In 1939, aged 14, he came as a young Jewish boy on one of the Kindertransports to the UK organised by Nicholas Winton and others. He served in the RAF during the war, returning to Czechoslovakia and then Israel where he trained as a scientist. Ben became a prominent physicist in America where his research led to the technology to power space probes such as the Voyager. For this work he was awarded the prestigious Stuart Ballantine Medal in 1979 and was inducted into the New Jersey Inventor Hall of Fame in 1991. In retirement Ben returned to England where he died in 2020.
This event is to mark the arrival of his remarkable archive which includes papers relating to the deep history of his Jewish family in Europe, his life as a Kindertransportee and his career as a leading physicist. This event is available to attend in person on campus at the University of Southampton or online via Zoom. Please chose the appropriate ticket when ordering. We are also offering the opportunity to view some of this newly arrived material in our archive between 3 and 3:45pm prior to our event. Please opt for this as an add-on when registering for a general admission (in person) ticket if interested in attending.
The speakers will include Helen Abeles, Ben’s widow, who will talk about his life; Nicola Woodhead of the Parkes Institute Karten Outreach Team who will introduce the history of the Kindertransport with particular focus on transmigrancy; Karen Robson on the archive collection as a whole and where Ben’s papers will fit in it; and Charlie Ryan, Associate Professor of Astronautics at the University who will explain the wider context of Ben’s scientific significance. Professor Tony Kushner of the Parkes Institute will chair the study day.
Refreshments will be served following this event.
Click here to register.
Details
| Location: | University of Southampton, Southampton, England |
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