Niels Bohr's Copenhagen: Physics past and future in Denmark

3 July 2024 – 6 days for £2698. No single supplement. 

Join this fascinating tour that takes a deep dive into the scientific heritage of Copenhagen, known as the birthplace of quantum physics. Uncover a rich history of scientific developments not only from Niels Bohr, but from a whole host of Danish scientists, including Tycho Brahe and Ole Rømer.  

Today, Copenhagen is a bustling city with trendy markets, shops, art, natural spaces, impressive architecture and laid-back people. It was here that Nobel laureate Niels Bohr (7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) founded the Institute of Theoretical Physics, now known as the Niels Bohr Institute, where the greatest scientific minds of the era – including Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger – did pioneering work on atomic structure. Bohr claimed the Nobel prize in physics in 1922, before escaping Nazi persecution to the UK, then to the US as part of the British mission to help J. Robert Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Explore the institutes and sites where Bohr formulated his theories on atomic structure and quantum theory (as recently seen in the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer). His impact on the modern world is vast and will be explored throughout this tour. Enjoy a day trip to ancient Roskilde – now a centre for sustainable energy research.

Throughout the tour, you will be accompanied by a guest speaker, Manjit Kumar, author of Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the great debate about the nature of reality. Manjit is a former consulting science editor for the UK edition of Wired magazine. He has written for New Scientist and many UK and US newspapers.

In partnership with Kirker Holidays.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN COPENHAGEN AND WELCOME DINNER

Arrive in Copenhagen and make your own way to your centrally located hotel.

In the evening, meet with the group, your local tour leader and Manjit Kumar for a welcome session. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner followed by the first of this week's talks from Manjit, which will cover a brief history of Bohr's research and an outline of the days ahead.

DAY 2: COPENHAGEN CITY TOUR, ROSENBORG CASTLE, RUNDTORN AND SORØ

Today, you will explore Copenhagen’s scientific heritage. Some of the sights you will see include Rosenborg Castle in central Copenhagen, which is a typical northern European Renaissance castle and is well worth a visit. The basement treasury holds some of astronomer Ole Rømer’s scientific pieces, along with Denmark's Crown Jewels.

You will also visit the Round Tower, or Rundetaarn, in central Copenhagen, where Rømer was first to prove that light travels at a finite speed. The tower was built as an observatory in 1642 and is unique due to its spiral structure. After this, you will continue to the observatory in Østervold, which was in use for 135 years and has a statue of astronomer Tycho Brahe outside.

After lunch, you will head to Sorø, approximately 1 hour south of Copenhagen. Here, you will visit Hauchs Physiske Cabinet, a beautiful and very interesting collection of scientific instruments gathered in the late 18th century. Over dinner, our guest speaker will explore the science behind Bohr's work and its application in the modern world.

DAY 3: CARLSBERG FOUNDATION, NATIONAL ACADEMY, NIELS BOHR INSTITUTE AND THE NATIONAL SPACE INSTITUTE

In the morning, you will head to the Carlsberg Foundation, where Niels Bohr once lived and worked. You will be given a private guided tour of the foundation, which also houses the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, and learn more about Bohr’s life and work. You will also hear about the foundation’s philanthropy and get insights into the support it offers to scientific research through its grants.

In the afternoon, you are invited to the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, where you will have a tour of the archives. The institute celebrated its centenary in 2021. Also at the university are the Cosmic Dawn Center and Dark Cosmology Centre. Research at the two centres focuses on the formation of the first stars and black holes, as well as gamma rays, dark matter, galaxies and neutrinos. If possible, you will meet scientists from the research centres to discuss the ongoing projects.

Additionally, you will meet European Spallation Source (ESS) scientists at their Data Management and Software Centre, which will be used to interpret data when construction of the ESS in Lund, Sweden, is completed. The facility's mission is "to build and operate the world’s most powerful neutron source, enabling scientific breakthroughs in research related to materials, energy, health and the environment, and addressing some of the most important societal challenges of our time". You will hear from experts about the ongoing research there.

Finally, visit the National Space Institute at the Technical University of Denmark in the afternoon, where you will learn how the work of Bohr and his predecessors is being built on for the research of the future.

DAY 4: ROSKILDE DAY TRIP

Embark on a day trip to Roskilde. Once important as a Viking trading hub, Roskilde celebrates its past while also looking to the future, hosting a large sustainable energy and biotech research facility. You will spend today touring the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde Cathedral and the harbour. 

DAY 5: EXPERIMENTARIUM SCIENCE MUSEUM AND TIVOLI FAIRGROUND

See science in action today as you first visit the Experimentarium museum, where theoretical science is put on display in a range of hands-on experiments and displays.  

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a visit to Tivoli, the city’s fairground. It has a range of rides to suit all adrenaline seekers and your educational needs, nestled in a beautiful environment of cafés, restaurants, trees and streams, the perfect way to relax on your last day in Copenhagen. You may be lucky enough to see its impressive fireworks display in the evening. 

DAY 6: DEPART COPENHAGEN

After a final breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport for your return journey.