Fat Man And Little Boy (1989)- The story of the Manhattan Project from the point of view of the scientists. Fat Man and Little Boy was produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Rowland Joffe. The film written by Rowland Joffe and Bruce Robinson, and stars Paul Newman.
Copenhagen (1998)- The story of the mysterious meeting in 1941 between Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr. Explores many of the issues that were discussed in the fall term SFR series, and specifically the development of the Atomic Bomb. Written by Michael Frayn, and winner of the 2000 Tony Award for Best Play.
Underlying the idea of scientific freedom and responsibility, is the role of the professional. With the pursuit of knowledge comes a certain obligation to the consequences that knowledge yields. We even see this in our won every day scientific pursuits (since all human beings are, among other things, scientists). In any case, we must look at the causes and effects of our actions.
In the case of the story of the Manhattan Project, we must look at the circumstances that faced the scientists during development of the greatest weapon of mass destruction in human history. In our exploration of scientific freedom and responsibility in this example, we look at conflicts that are common to men and women in any age, regardless of their involvement in science.
-Guided Explorations:
Exploration 1: Role of the Scientist in Developing Technology
-----> Recommendations On the Immediate Use of Nuclear Weapons (1945)
Source: nuclearfiles.org
Exploration 2: Impact of Science and Technology on Society
----> George Harrison's memo for the Secretary of War Stimson (June 26, 1945)
Source: nuclearfiles.org
Exploration 3: Research Under "biased conditions"
Source: nuclearfiles.org
-Links to Explore:
The exploration of the history behind the development of the atomic bomb leaves us with a number of fundamental questions in the pursuit of scientific freedom and responsibility. These sites will help you to explore these questions further, and to help you start to formulate your own.
----> Yahoo! Directory on Atomic Bomb History : a great starting place to gain some first hand information and newly discovered information about the atomic bomb.
----> Nuclearfiles.org : another wonderful resource to look at the documents involved with the Manhattan Project, as well as some interesting articles and commentary on the role of scientists.
----> Only a Question of Time by Jennifer Allen-Simmons: an article from Nuclearfiles.org exploring the ethics of the professional scientist and their involvement with the Manhattan project
-----> History and Ethics behind the Manhattan Project by Miguel A. Bracchini. A website dedicated to the history and ethics behind the Manhattan project.
----> The National Atomic Museum: The Manhattan Project Historical facts about key places, as well as biographies of key players in the mobilization of the Manhattan Project
----> Should Scientists and Engineers Have to Take an Oath? The American Academy of the Advancement of Science debates this question in September, 2000.
©Jason Gallant