Dr. Avi Rabinowitz
air1@nyu.edu
See also:
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Brief version:
Current affiliation: B.A.S.I.C., (Bahamas Advanced Study Institute & Conferences): Gravity, Cosmology, Particle Physics: Stella Maris, Long Island, Bahamas;
Taught and researched in various universities; published papers: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7549-0775 ;
Phd: NYU, theoretical physics (general relativity);
BS: JCT: Engineering: electro-optics, computer-modeling;
Lectures: "Introduction to general relativity for undergraduate physics majors" ; Interactive heuristic-intuitive lectures on "Introductory physics" [on channel: https://www.youtube.com/avirab1]
contact: air1@nyu.edu [not currently affiliated to nyu]
Born in Maryland, US citizen, native language English.
Raised and completed high school in Montreal, Canada.
BS: Electro-Optical Engineering: Jerusalem College of Technology
Senior Project: A Computer Model of the Point Spread Function of the Human Visual System.
PhD: Theoretical Physics: NYU. Thesis: Non-trivial Topological structures in Kaluza Klein theory (combination of gravitation and electromagnetic theory)
Post-doctoral research: General Relativity & Cosmology: Ben Gurion University, Israel; Visiting scholar NYU.
Language proficiencies: Mother tongue English, fluent in Hebrew and Yiddish; proficient in French and somewhat in German; basic communication in Russian and Spanish.
Current affiliation: 2018-2023: Bahamas Advanced Study Institute & Conferences (BASIC* : U of Miami & BGU).
Current affiliation: 2018-2023: Bahamas Advanced Study Institute & Conferences (BASIC* : U of Miami & BGU).
Papers in preparation (with Prof Eduardo Guendelman):
Papers in preparation (with Prof Eduardo Guendelman):
- “The Braneworld Equivalence Principle”,
- “The Red Shift Controversy Revisited”,
- “Einstein-equation Analogs to Newtonian Gravity”.
* BASIC: "A stimulating center in a tropical environment where scientists and their students can gather, think in depth, and exchange ideas about important scientific problems, especially in physics and related fields", correlating many of its activities with the Center for Theoretical Studies (CTS) in the Department of Physics at the University of Miami and Ben Gurion University (BGU)
Topological inflation
- E.I.Guendelman and A.Rabinowitz: "Gravitational Field of a Hedgehog and the Evolution of Vacuum Bubbles": Phys. Rev. D44, 3152-3158 (1991). https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.44.3152
- E.I.Guendelman and A.Rabinowitz: " Hedgehog Compactification", Phys. Rev. D47, 3474-3475(1993); https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.47.3474 (and errata)
Toplogical structure in 5-d Kaluza Klein theory:
PhD thesis, NYU: Uniform static magnetic field: Non trivial topological structure in Kaluza-Klein Theory
With Prof E L Schucking: in TOPOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND GLOBAL STRUCTURE OF SPACE-TIME. PROCEEDINGS, NATO ADVANCED STUDY INSTITUTE, ERICE
Other:
- E.I.Guendelman and A.I.Rabinowitz: "Linearity, non self-interacting spherically symmetric gravitational fields, the sphereland equivalence principle and hamiltonian bubbles". General Relativity and Gravitation 28, 117, (1996); https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02105418, BASE:6dff363bbc932505cbc6b45ae79d8bc477a3543bc99ac05f8f2c510f2898a6f0
- Finding Schwarzschild metric component grr and FLRW's k without solving the Einstein's equation, rather by a synergistic matching between geometric results enfranchised by Newtonian gravity E.I.Guendelman, A.I.Rabinowitz, Arka Banik 2017 https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.05739 , www.base-search.net/Record/44ba744a83b3a28a42f9362061820adf58151f09fec85b495bb57b96d946abed
- Intriguing & intuitive relation of diagonal Riemann tensor components to the corresponding 2-d Gaussian curvature for diagonal metrics of any dimensionality 2019 https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.01696 , BASE:44eb8573b0ce0f8127b9b088e24ca6803ef74620da76b2b5d70bfdd20a2b432a
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Main activities 2002-2021
Main activities 2002-2021
2018-2021:
2018-2021:
- Entrepreneurship training re how to create a startup: Attending lectures & studying instructional material geared to entrepreneurs lacking business training and experience;
- Created a website-based project to help people with similar housing needs to aggregrate into groups in order to collaborate to create affordable housing for themselves;
- Initiating pre-startup research projects involving machine learning as applied to creating predictive models for the deterioration of dental health, and of visual acuity.
Some research into dynamical symmetries in vacuum solutions of the Einstein equations.
2015-2018:
2015-2018:
- Editing the videos of the GR lectures to create a youtube lecture series;
- Editing my GR textbook (contract with Springer Verlag: "Space-Time, Wormholes and the Big bang: an Introduction to General Relativity and Cosmology": an innovative textbook heuristically deriving and solving the Einstein equations for cases of special interest, based on calculus rather than on differential geometry)
- Preparing website-companions to the Youtube GR lectures, and to the GR textbook.
- Also: editing "my Intro to physics" lectures and creating a complete Youtube course [ “Intuitive Physics”: Guiding the intelligent student towards a discovery of the laws of nature, and helping to develop analytical insight as preparation for future research in the sciences].
2002-2014: NYU visiting scholar, physics dept (for several years during this period):
2002-2014: NYU visiting scholar, physics dept (for several years during this period):
- Engaged in research with Prof Englebert L. Schucking.
- Giving enrichment seminar lecture series on introduction to GR to the NYU Student Physics Society and visitors from other regional SPS chapters
Below are links to these related projects:
The "Intro to Physics" beginning lecture series (a complete course), algebra-based rather than calculus; also designed to be a preparation for the "Intro to GR" lecture series;
The "intro to General Relativity" lecture-video series ( a complete course); mostly calculus-based, with some elementary differential-geometry; PLUS: the website accompanying these lectures.
The "intro to General Relativity" textbook; PLUS: the website accompanying the book.
Introductory physics: interactive class: Heuristic development of 'laws of nature': Galileo, Newton, & prelude to Einstein: A complete lecture course on Youtube for general science majors. ----->
See my guide to this playlist.
Introductory General Relativity: Einstein's beautiful& magical recasting of Newtonian Gravity:
A complete lecture-course on Youtube, for Science/physics students.
See my website-guide to these lectures --->
Website accompanying my Intro to GR texbook titled:
"The Geometry of Space+Time & Newton-Einstein gravity: An intuitive segue from classical theory to General Relativity"
Teaching and senior academic administrative positions
Fall 2001-Jan 2002: Taught physics to science majors (BMCC/CUNY), utilizing a socratic approach, developing the equations in an intuitive manner together with the students. Lectures were video-taped (plans for editing the videos, adapting them for students use, and potential wider distribution in coordination with the Science Department and BMCC media center, were sidelined due to the neighboring WTC disaser towards the beginning of the semester; instead the videos were edited many years later and uploaded to Youtube).
Academic year 2000-2001: SUNY Associate Professor, Empire State College (ESC), International Programs (IP); Cyprus Residency Program (mainly for students from nearby Lebanon), in situ and at-a-distance via the internet: "Mentor" for Information Technology and Computer Science students, responsible for crafting individually-tailored degree programs (including fine tuning and obtaining appproval at online faculty meetings with other ESC mentors in NYS), plus teaching a course in "Emerging Technologies in Information Systems" [including an introduction to recommender systems].
Academic year 1998-2000: SUNY ESC Associate Professor; Director of ESC's Israel Unit (IP) for American students abroad (mostly NYS residents). Responsible for the academic and administrative aspects of the college branch, with 100 students, 20 (part-time) faculty, and staff, including faculty recruitment, recruiting and orienting new students, designing individually-tailored degree programs for all students (including fine tuning and obtaining appproval at online faculty meetings with other ESC mentors in NYS) and instucting the SMAT majors via one-on-one guided-self-study courses, as well as handling finances, obtaining instructional material (Amazon had recently started operations making this simpler), purchasing computers, submitting reports etc.
Academic years 1996-1998:
SUNY ESC: Assistant Professor; Half-time Mentor for Science Math and Technology, Metropolitan Center, Manhattan NY ("Chair of Physical Sciences Dept."). Responsible for individual degree-design for SMAT students (except for life-sciences), and for giving one-on-one guided-individual study SMAT(-bio) courses, plus administering specially-tailored guided-self-study science-requirement courses for students with non-SMAT majors.
Touro College NY: Taught two-semester sequence of algebra/trigonometry-based physics to health science majors at the Manhattan & Brooklyn campuses.
1992-1995:
SUNY Empire State College. Taught: classroom based course on statistics; one-on-one courses (guided independent study) in math, physics and general science:
Research with Prof Englebert Schucking.
1990-91: taught differential equations to engineering students at Ben Gurion University; reasearch with Prof Eduardo Guendelman
1989: Belfer School of Physics, Yeshiva University Manhattan, NY.
Taught Quantum Mechanics to physics majors;
Research with Prof Finkelstein, and with Prof Arthur Komar.
1987-1988: taught Calculus to American students abroad at Gold College, Jerusalem.
During doctoral studies, and thesis research & writing:
NYU: teaching fellowship: problem-solving sections for pre-med physics course.
BMCC/CUNY: taught an astronomy course to non-science students.
The Cooper Union, NY: taught a physics course for engineering students.
Rutgers University Newark campus: taught physics to pre-med students.
MCAT-prep courses in physics.
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My Greatest Teaching Expertise:
Imparting to non-science majors a real comprehension and deep appreciation of the scientific method in its application to everyday life and interests, as well as of the concepts and equations of physics (including to students whose religious, political or philosophical worldviews tend to disincline them towards the sciences).
Guiding science majors in a classroom setting to enable them to arrive at physics equaitons "by themselves", through reason, discussion, observation and experiment, rather than simply presenting it to them as "received wisdom". See my website guide to the Youtube lectures of actual classroom presentation embedded above.
My experience with individual program and course design, guided independent study, and teaching US students abroad.
Having been a mentor with Empire State College for five years I have extensive experience with non-traditional individualized learning, specifically with individual program and course design, and guided independent study.
In my first two years with Empire State College as a STEM mentor I designed many degree programs and courses in that area of study for students of all academic and cultural backgrounds.
Following that, my two years as director of ESC’s branch in Israel (official title: Mentor/Coordinator of the Israel Unit) provided me with experience mentoring American students abroad in many academic fields outside the sciences, as well as extensive administrative experience.
The next year (2000-2001) I served as mentor for Lebanese technology students. Besides the face-to-face meetings in nearby Cyprus, the Lebanese program involved mentoring via the Internet, and this gave me rather early exposure to some of the techniques of distance learning.In general, working abroad with students of various nationalities was very enriching.
Courses for which I have developed materials: appropriate for non-quantitative introductory courses for non-science majors:
Introduction to Science and the Scientific method: based mostly on Carl Sagan’s “Broca’s Brain”, plus other books;
An open-minded scientific analysis of astrology: based on books and articles of authors pro and con;
Introduction to Quantum Physics, Relativity and Cosmology: based on “The Dancing WuLi Masters” and other books.
My Expertise other than teaching:
Designing, establishing and administrating innovative eductional programs in the US and abroad;
Creative, novel solutions to practical problems;
increasing the efficiency of operations;
clearly explaining complex situations;
inventing new systems to meet new needs.
Other Activities:
Humanitarian communal work:
Spring semester 1994: Full-time position as a consultant and to design & catalyze programming in St. Petersburg, Russia, for the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC); part of the task was to go on my own, arrange meetings with relevant personages, hire staff, and set up my operation, all of which is a rather different kettle of fish than running an existing operation.
Many times, over the years: Arranged and led Passover seders and High Holiday services in various communities of Eastern Europe's formerly-Communist countries, combined with educational programming (Pro-bono after travel/lodging expenses):.
Other Interests:
Travel: Spent a combined total of several years traveling (solo rather than as part of a group) in: the US, Central America, all of Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Ukraine, most of Central Asia, much of China, trekking in Nepal, travel in India, Pakistan, South Africa, North Africal. And: organizing a group-travel experience in Southern & Eastern Europe based on my own travels there.
Stage-acting: See me in the role of Thenardier (the inkeeper) in Les Mis as performed at Bet Hillel of Hebrew University. Appeared also in Hebrew another season in the same role, and in "Fiddler on the Roof" as well.
Note re classroom-teaching as a stage-performance: My grad-school teaching experience(as part of my fellowship) may well have impacted my level of comfort on the stage, and in return my stage-acting experience almost surely enhanced my teaching ability. Certainly the feeling of exhileration and energy-boost coupled with exhaustion after what I feel was a good class is similar to the feeling after a good stage-performance!
Choir: Participated in the bass section of a choir, including at a theater performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah".
"Start-ups": Initiating projects to help solve a problem I identitfy, and attempting to scale them via websites of my own creation in order to facilitate solving those problems for people anywhere. See "Main Activities 2018-21" above.
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Other Publications and conferences papers: (Science & Religion, Philosophy, Biblical Studies):
B’ohr Hatorah: (a peer-reviewed journal of Art & Science. Five articles (English, one in Hebrew) on topics in philosophy, and in science and religion;
Article in the book Fusion: published by Feldheim;
Two articles in the book Science In the Light of Torah; pub by Jason Aronson;
Jewish Bible Quarterly (DorLeDor): two articles (in English);
Delivered invited papers at five conferences on science and religion.
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Books in progress (multi-year projects):
“Einstein’s Blunder and The God Who Plays Dice”: analysis of free will, morality, and meaning from the scientific-philosophical perspective, employing Einstein’s metaphysical/religious beliefs as a springboard for discussion.
Pre-Physics Math: Introducing all the math and notation systems required for an algebra/trigonometry-based introductory physics course.
Quantum Astrology: Helping readers learn how to apply the scientific method "to choose the most accurate astrologers".
"Time-transcending currents": Deeper messages of the patterns & themes underlying seemingly-disparate Biblical narratives.
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