From: GARAVELLI@NBRF.GEORGETOWN.EDU
Newsgroups: bionet.info-theory
Subject: Washington Philosophical Society --- 2002nd Meeting
Date: 9 Nov 92 14:56:30 GMT
Distribution: bionet


                    The Philosophical Society of Washington
                                  Founded 1871

                                 2002nd Meeting
                     Friday, November 20, 1992, at 8:15 pm

                   John Wesley Powell Auditorium, Cosmos Club
                     (Entrance at 2170 Florida Avenue, NW)


                              Fernand D. Bedard
                           National Security Agency

                        Superconductivity:  Who Cares?


Discoveries in physics are often envisioned as golden opportunities for major
commercial applications.  Unfortunately, they often find themselves as
solutions looking for problems.  In that context, superconductivity, discovered
in 1911, has been searching for a role in some large market.  In recent years,
due principally to the discovery of materials which display zero resistance at
liquid nitrogen temperatures, the pursuit has emphasized applications in the
highly competitive world of microelectronics.  In that world one of the most
exciting and productive developments has been that of high performance
computing -- supercomputing.  Physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering have
been greatly advanced by the ability to rapidly calculate answers to very
complicated equations.  More prosaic things such as cartoons and TV commercials
have found manipulating graphics to be very financially rewarding.  However, as
usual, high performance demands are out pacing readily available technologies;
increases in speed are wanted, reductions in power are needed.  This perceived
"demand" has motivated significant developments in superconducting electronics
where both low power and blinding speed are simultaneously achievable.  Thus
one is strongly tempted to ask whether Supercomputing can be the market which
transitions superconductivity from a physics phenomenon to a microelectronics
technology.

Fernand Bedard received his PhD in physics from The Johns Hopkins University. 
He has taught at the University of Cincinnati and American University.  He is
a research physicist at NSA where his work has been in magnetic resonance and
superconductivity, with most recent emphasis on superconductive electronics.

Next Meeting: December 4, 1992 -  Michael Slesinger, Office of Naval Research,
              "Chaos and Fractals: Past and Future"
     

    Willard Grant             Eloise Moore Agger            Mary Enig         
      President                 Program Chair            Membership Chair     
   (202) 659-2320               (301) 652-7325       (301) 572-4914 (evening)

Network inquiries to:  John S. Garavelli
                       GARAVELLI@GUNBRF.BITNET
                       GARAVELLI@NBRF.GEORGETOWN.EDU

                    Non-members are welcome at all meetings
                          Appropriate Attire Required

Notice:  Parking at the Cosmos Club is limited to members of the Club and their
guests.  The Cosmos Club is within easy walking distance of the Dupont Metro
stop (Q Street exit), the Connecticut Avenue bus routes (L2, L4), and the
Massachusetts Avenue bus routes (N2, N4).

                    The Philosophical Society of Washington
                     First Half 1992-1993 Season Schedule

September 11	Susumu Sato, National Institutes of Health
		Application of the Superconducting Quantum Interference
		Device (SQUID) Magnetometer in Biomedical Research

October 2	Ayub Ommaya, Neurosurgon
		I Feel Therefore I Am: The Biology of Emotion

October 23	Virginia Trimble, University of Maryland
		The Universe You Don't See:
		The Existence and Nature of Dark Matter

November 6	Colin Cox, Johns Hopkins University
		X Marks the Spot:  Hubble Telescope Research

November 20	Fernand D. Bedard, National Security Agency
		Superconductivity:  Who Cares?

December 4	Michael Slesinger, Office of Naval Research
		Chaos and Fractals: Past and Future

December 18	Teed Rockwell, Philosopher
		Beyond Determinism and Indignity:
		A Reinterpretation of Operant Conditioning

January 8	Retiring President's Address 

All meetings start at 8:15 p.m., with the exception of the Retiring President's
Address, which begins at 8:30 p.m.  Meetings are followed by a Social Hour with
beer and cider.  Non-Members Welcome
Newsgroups: bionet.info-theory