Of politics and preparation in Cuban physics

Congratulations to Physics Today on the very informative article about advanced physics education in Cuba during the late 20th century, from this former student of Ciencias Físico Químicas (chemical physics) at the University of Havana. The approximately two-century-old tradition of strong public science education has led to the success of their graduates at home and abroad. My contemporaries (1946–51) received instruction in various disciplines that physics depends on, particularly mathematics and chemistry. Many of us were prepared to obtain higher degrees abroad—for example, at the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Berkeley. The excellent, devoted professionals mentioned in the article gave us the foundations—such as the Gauss, Green, and Stokes theorems—that we would later use for solving real physics problems.

We were also exposed to lectures on street-wise topics. One noteworthy example was a presentation as the first lecture of organic chemistry. The instructor showed students how to build a firebomb using the important national product, sugar, plus a still readily available liquid that could be carried in a small test tube in a coat pocket. The purpose was not to train terrorists but to inform the students of possible threats in the world. This type of education is still needed everywhere.

I have made my academic career in the US because of family matters. But I received the important undergraduate foundations of my education in Cuba, from excellent teachers, at public institutions.