Top 10 of 2013: Everything is Relative

Number 4: Everything is Relative
Washington, District of Columbia
253 Favorite Points

Many of the monuments in DC are dedicated to the greatest politicians in the history of the United States (some of which are the greatest politicians to have ever lived in the history of the world). Frankly, when you get down to it, there are few statues and memorials that are not dedicated to past presidents, diplomats, armed conflicts, branches of the armed services, or decorated officers. But there is one that is extremely dear to my heart.

In 2009 I had the opportunity to pursue a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship with the National Academies in Washington, DC. During my 4-month stint in the Technical Activities Division of the Transportation Research Board I probably learned more per waking hour than at any other point in my life. I learned about how transportation issues make the greater political agenda, how they are funded, how researchers are chosen, and, really, how it is a wonder the system works as well as it does.

At the time, the National Academy of Science’s main building on Constitution Avenue was being renovated so all activities were in their other center in Chinatown. But my mentor and boss at the time made it a point to ensure I could make it over to the main building at least once to simply absorb the history and on one day our entire class of fellows made the trip to visit Einstein for our class picture.

There is no other place where you can feel so close to Einstein. You can literally sit on his knee and ruminate over the deepest thoughts and theories the mind is capable of.

The greatest surprise of all is that this monument is merely across Constitution from the Mall and the better known, more political monuments. Einstein doesn’t seem to mind though. He seems to enjoy the peace.

Official Portrait of the Fall 2009 Christine Mirzayan Fellows

This is the seventh most favorited geocache in the District of Columbia.