Oppenheimer presentation set March 1 at Lewes library

Back by demand, Fred Dylla, Lewes resident and executive director emeritus of the American Institute of Physics, will present “Oppenheimer: The Man, the Movie and the Book,” a multimedia discussion highlighting Robert Oppenheimer’s career and Dylla’s personal experience working with Oppenheimer’s colleagues, at 5 p.m., Friday, March 1, at Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes.

The accomplishments and tribulations of Oppenheimer, one of the 20th century’s most famous physicists, were in the spotlight in summer 2023 with the release of Christopher Nolan’s epic film, “Oppenheimer,” inspired by the acclaimed biography, “American Prometheus,” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

In this engaging and personal presentation, Dylla will show historical photos while describing the arc of Oppenheimer’s career, from physics researcher to head of the Manhattan Project, to government scientific advisor and head of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Dylla will also reflect on the impact Oppenheimer had on his own career and on generations of scientists in the U.S.

“I had the privilege of knowing and learning from some of Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project colleagues during my studies of physics at MIT,” said Dylla. “Over my 50-year career, led by his and his colleagues’ public service example, physicists continue to contribute to research that benefits the nation and world.”

The event will be moderated by Linda Dylla, a physics/science writer who served as a communications director for several Department of Energy national laboratories.

Seating is limited, and registration is required. To register, go to lewes.lib.de.us or call 302-645-2733.