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Reshaping the Past: Enrico Fermi’s 1934 Experiments between History and Immersion
Tue, July 14, 11:00am to 12:30pm, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Floor: Level 1, Ochil Suite 3English Abstract
In this contribution, I will present a case study on the enhancement and valorisation of the scientific and historical heritage of the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi (1901-1954), focusing on the new installation "Annus Mirabilis. The Experiments of 1934". Created at the Enrico Fermi Museum on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the physicist’s pioneering experiments on radioactivity conducted at the historic Via Panisperna laboratories in Rome, the exhibit not only celebrates a foundational episode in modern science, but also reflects on the broader cultural context in which Fermi and his group of young researchers operated. The installation aims to bring back to life the intellectual atmosphere of those crucial months in 1934, when experimental intuition, creativity, and collaboration converged to reshape the understanding of atomic processes.
Through the presentation of a short trailer and selected excerpts from the installation, this talk retraces the process that led to its creation—from the collection of archival documents and photographs to the 3D scanning and photogrammetry of the building and the scientific instruments. By combining rigorous historical and scientific reconstruction with evocative references to Fermi’s work and life and educational games, the exhibit seeks to demonstrate how digital technologies can offer new forms of access, interpretation, and engagement with scientific heritage.
The new project presented in this occasion for the first time also highlights the collaborative nature on which it is based, involving historians of science, physicists, experts in science communication, and professionals in the field of digital technologies working together to reinterpret a cornerstone of twentieth-century research.
Ultimately, "Annus Mirabilis" exemplifies how the integration of historical research, digital humanities, and museological innovation can revitalize the memory of science, transforming Fermi’s legacy into an immersive experience that invites visitors to rediscover the origins of nuclear physics from a different perspective.