English

C.V. Raman as a Science Communicator: A Historical Perspective

History and Philosophy of Physics 2025-12-10 v1 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Applied Physics Physics and Society

Abstract

C.V. Raman (1888 - 1970) was a creative scientist, enthusiastic teacher and a science celebrity in India. In all these roles, he communicated science effectively. In this essay, I ask how and why did he communicate science. I take a few examples from his research writings and show his ability to explain science lucidly. By looking into his thoughts on teaching and those of his students, I explore Raman, the teacher. Finally, I discuss a few aspects of his methods to communicate science to the public. I emphasize his exposition and reveal a dichotomy.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2403.04773,
  title  = {C.V. Raman as a Science Communicator: A Historical Perspective},
  author = {G. V. Pavan Kumar},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.04773},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

On 28th Feb, 1928, the Raman effect was observed for the first time. I wrote this essay in commemoration of day which is celebrated as National Science Day in India

R2 v1 2026-06-28T15:12:45.318Z