Public open event
Is this event for you?
This event is aimed at adults and young people (age 14+ yrs) who are curious about the applications of physics. No background knowledge in physics is required and you will have the opportunity to ask lots of questions.
About the event
At the Department of Physics, our research spans everything from the tiniest particles to the entire cosmos, but we don’t just leave the ideas scrawled on blackboards, hidden on hard drives or tucked into unfathomable scientific papers. We take our research and make it work for you. For one night every year, we open our doors to show you how we shift our physics from the lab into your life.
You can tour the laboratories where the science is happening now, from next-generation solar cells to quantum computers. Researchers will give talks exploring how they have transformed their work into technology and there will be lots of demonstrations and time for Q&A where you can investigate more of these science stories, pick the brains of the researchers behind them, and uncover how physics is changing your life.
Research areas
We will be covering a wealth of topics during the evening – here are some examples:
- Quantum computing
- Solar-cells
- Virus detection
- Climate science
- Quantum materials
- Aprticle accelerators
Talks
- 19:00 - Quantum computing
Math with atoms: An introduction to quantum computing with trapped ions (William Cutler)
This talk explains what quantum computing is (and isn't), why it's important, how we make it happen with trapped ions, and what we're researching in the lab to make better quantum computers.
- 19:40 - Solar technology
The science of wiggles: How light tells us what materials can do (Sarah Scripps)
Isaac Asimov once said the most exciting phrase in science isn’t ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny...’. In this talk, we’ll explore how we investigate new materials for solar panels—not just what we discover, but how we ask the right questions, and what we learn when things don’t go as expected!
- 20:20 - Quantum materials
Quantum mapping of novel superconductors (Prof Amalia Coldea)
This talk introduces the fundamental principles of superconductivity and its remarkable applications, then presents how high-magnetic fields can help us to map their Fermi surfaces and determine upper critical fields.
https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/our-people/coldeaa
https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/group/quantum-matter-high-magnetic-fields
Feedback from previous events
"I really liked learning about how physics is being applied in different ways, such as how it is being used to create 3D images of historical buildings that have been destroyed from photographs"
"it's really interesting to see the way they are doing the experiments in the labs"
"My favourite part was seeing how different technologies are used and adapted to different situations, because this opened my eyes to the wide range of topics physics can apply to"
Bookings
We are no longer taking bookings. However you are welcome to come to the venue this evening at 6.40pm to take one of the remaining spaces on a first come first served basis.
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