even with this additional understanding, where does it leave us? Thomas
Hager in ‘The Alchemy of Air …’
8 provides an entertaining account of what
might have happened in the Karlsruhe laboratory during this time, and even
though his view lacks any kind of verifiable support, one suspects that it is
probably not too far from the truth. In this respect then, a sprinkling of facts
coupled with conjecture based on what one could reasonably expect to have
happened has to suffice, and the sad truth is that we probably know more
about what happened between March and July 1909 than we will ever know
about the whole of the preceding year. Neither Haber nor Le Rossignol left us
a detailed, ‘blow by blow’, personal account of this period, and Robert’s three
years at Karlsruhe never led to any kind of academic dissertation which may
have provided some additional insight.
9 Nevertheless, we have fragmentary
glimpses into the events and relationships developed during this period. For
example, in 1928
10 Robert published the only account of his recollections as
part of an international appreciation of Haber’s 60th birthday, and although
it was lacking in detail—even misdating
11 the meeting with BASF to June
1908—what emerges is his immense regard for Haber at the time. Here
Robert is self-deprecating, far from identifying himself as a principal player in
the evolution of the ammonia synthesis, he says;
As early as 1904 Haber had worked on the ammonia synthesis. This work was
taken up by van Oordt and published in 1905. That really was the basis for the
production of ammonia even if in view of the knowledge at the time, an
application seemed impossible. Nevertheless, Haber devoted himself to it and
in 1906 he decided to do new research work on it. This task was taken up
together with the author of these lines at first from a purely scientific point of
view … .
After outlining his recollections of that time, he is reverential, totally
underplaying his role in the whole affair;
At the end of these lines I should like to take the opportunity to express my
deep gratitude for the friendship granted to me by Haber. It is rare for a young
person such as I was at the time to be given he luck to come into contact with
such an excellent teacher. A teacher whose own enthusiasm and devotion to his
work translated to his students and in whom they always found a true friend
and advisor. No wonder that even today, [1928] many of his pupils think of
him with admiration, enthusiasm and gratitude, remembering when they were
allowed to share time with him …
8 The Big Fix …
159
Hager in ‘The Alchemy of Air …’
8 provides an entertaining account of what
might have happened in the Karlsruhe laboratory during this time, and even
though his view lacks any kind of verifiable support, one suspects that it is
probably not too far from the truth. In this respect then, a sprinkling of facts
coupled with conjecture based on what one could reasonably expect to have
happened has to suffice, and the sad truth is that we probably know more
about what happened between March and July 1909 than we will ever know
about the whole of the preceding year. Neither Haber nor Le Rossignol left us
a detailed, ‘blow by blow’, personal account of this period, and Robert’s three
years at Karlsruhe never led to any kind of academic dissertation which may
have provided some additional insight.
9 Nevertheless, we have fragmentary
glimpses into the events and relationships developed during this period. For
example, in 1928
10 Robert published the only account of his recollections as
part of an international appreciation of Haber’s 60th birthday, and although
it was lacking in detail—even misdating
11 the meeting with BASF to June
1908—what emerges is his immense regard for Haber at the time. Here
Robert is self-deprecating, far from identifying himself as a principal player in
the evolution of the ammonia synthesis, he says;
As early as 1904 Haber had worked on the ammonia synthesis. This work was
taken up by van Oordt and published in 1905. That really was the basis for the
production of ammonia even if in view of the knowledge at the time, an
application seemed impossible. Nevertheless, Haber devoted himself to it and
in 1906 he decided to do new research work on it. This task was taken up
together with the author of these lines at first from a purely scientific point of
view … .
After outlining his recollections of that time, he is reverential, totally
underplaying his role in the whole affair;
At the end of these lines I should like to take the opportunity to express my
deep gratitude for the friendship granted to me by Haber. It is rare for a young
person such as I was at the time to be given he luck to come into contact with
such an excellent teacher. A teacher whose own enthusiasm and devotion to his
work translated to his students and in whom they always found a true friend
and advisor. No wonder that even today, [1928] many of his pupils think of
him with admiration, enthusiasm and gratitude, remembering when they were
allowed to share time with him …
8 The Big Fix …
159