If I had a time machine…

This post has been inspired by an idea from the daily post blog:

If you had a time machine that only let you spend one hour in a different time, what date would you go to?

I would set the time machine and “fly” (or what verb should you use for this?) back to some time in the mid 1960s to the University of Toronto to spend one hour discussing with Dr. Kani.

Just as many other researchers in the late 50s and 60s, he studied shear in reinforced concrete, which is also the topic of my research. I’ve read the few papers he wrote, as well as the book which was published more than a decade after his death. Most of all, though, I was impressed by the discussion and closure which resulted from his paper titled “the riddle of shear failure and its solution.”

The discussion and closure were about 30 pages long, and when I was reading this, I got a glimpse of how it must have been to attend a live discussion with those pioneers in shear research. So many good ideas, so much enthusiasm sparks out of their writing. I have the impression those must have been thrilling times.

I’d love to go back in time, with the results and ideas that I have, and discuss with a researcher like Dr. Kani. I’m sure I would learn so much in that hour’s worth of time.