Simply Scottish is a podcast of music and features about my homeland of Scotland. Founded in 1999, the production ran for three years as a weekly live radio show co-hosted with my father Andrew Sr. airing on NPR radio station affiliates in several U.S. states and Ontario, Canada. In 2011, it relaunched as a podcast and remains a popular option for Scottish enthusiasts across the globe today. Enjoy recent episodes below or check out the full archive here.
Episode 94: James Clerk Maxwell: The Scottish Mind Behind Modern Physics – Simply Scottish
He’s one of the most significant scientists of the nineteenth century, and his work laid the foundation for modern physics, quantum mechanics, and relativity. Scottish physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell is a pivotal figure in the history of modern science. On this episode, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with mathematics educator, curriculum designer, and medical physicist Amos Tarfa to better understand the great scientist’s contributions and lasting influence. Maxwell is considered by some to be the greatest scientist between Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. As if to confirm this, when asked if he stood on the shoulders of Newton, Einstein once replied, “No, on the shoulders of Maxwell.” Maxwell also had a strong belief that nature showed evidence of intelligent design. Tarfa discusses how Maxwell harmonized his faith and reason, and gives examples of how his discoveries point toward deeper questions about order, design, and meaning in the universe. Plus, enjoy new music from Kim Carney and Gnoss!
Andrew McDiarmid 