Learning about the work of Dénes Gábor and the holography that earned him a Nobel Prize could inspire future generations, as emphasized at today’s opening of the “Echoes of the Past Hologram” exhibit at Debrecen’s Agóra Science Center. This unique exhibit is designed for exploration with a flashlight.
In 2025, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of Dénes Gábor, Nobel laureate engineer-physicist and holography inventor. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Novofer Foundation and Agóra Science Center, transports us back in time to showcase holograms that are 20-30 years old but remain timeless in their technology. These holographic works, gathered from various parts of the world, originate from the legacy of Professor Pál Greguss, a former colleague of Dénes Gábor.
At the exhibit’s opening, the deputy mayor in charge of cultural affairs highlighted Agóra’s exemplary role in Debrecen’s extensive network of collaboration between economic actors, and educational, and cultural institutions. István Puskás added that he hopes this exhibit will open a new chapter in events that examine the relationship between innovation, technology, and our lives.
Visitors will encounter an important slice of both Hungarian and universal technological history up close, as emphasized by Miklós Bendzsel, chairman of the board of the Novofer Foundation. He also noted that the exhibition was made possible with support from the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office as part of preparations for the series of celebratory events surrounding the 125th anniversary of Gábor’s birth. An interactive lecture aimed at young people accompanies the exhibit, introducing the Nobel laureate engineer-physicist’s work on holography.
Béla Somogyi, Agóra’s director, stated that the partnership with the Novofer Foundation reinforces the goals the institution set out ten years ago. Created in the spirit of scientific popularization, this exhibit offers a unique experience, allowing the discovery of holograms through experimentation, using flashlights for illumination from multiple angles.
In close connection with the exhibit, Agóra is organizing two significant lectures for interested physics teachers and students on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Starting at 14:30, a 45-minute educational program will introduce Dénes Gábor’s intellectual legacy, including an introduction to holography. This will be followed by a lecture from Hungarian physicist Dr. Péter Dombi, a university professor, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and internationally recognized researcher in ultrafast laser physics, titled *Optical Research of Hungarian Nobel Laureates*.
The exhibit will be on display at Debrecen’s Agóra Interactive Space until December 15, 2024. In 2025, it will continue its tour, making stops in various cities across Hungary at Agóra centers partnered with the science experience center.
(Agóra Science Center)
