Criteria Quote by Werner Heisenberg
“The physicist may be satisfied when he has the mathematical scheme and knows how to use for the interpretation of the experiments. But he has to speak about his results also to non-physicists who will not be satisfied unless some explanation is given in plain language. Even for the physicist the description in plain language will be the criterion of the degree of understanding that has been reached.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Science Communication, Werner Heisenberg, 1962
Scientists must translate complex ideas into plain language for public understanding.
In simple terms: Scientists need to explain work simply.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize clear communication of science.
Themes
science communication
education
accessibility
Mood
educational
thoughtful
Type
informative
inspirational
When to use this quote
- science lectures
- media interviews
- school curricula
- policy briefings
Key Concepts
physics
pedagogy
public outreach
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance accuracy and simplicity?
- What tools aid effective science storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Simplification can risk loss of nuance.
![“It was about three o'clock at night when the final result of the calculation [which gave birth to quantum mechanics] lay before me ... At first I was deeply shaken ... I was so excited that I could not think of sleep. So I left the house ... and awaited the sunrise on top of a rock.” quote by Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bba/werner-heisenberg-4501_birth_it-was-about-three-o-clock-at-night-when_265746.jpg)
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
