Professor Peter Norreys, University of Oxford
The third in a series of annual public lectures, the Pride Lectures aim to share and celebrate speakers' contributions both to their fields of physics as well as to the inclusion of LGBT+ in STEM. The inaugural Pride Lecture in 2024 was given by Professor Peter Coles, University of Maynooth; this year's lecture will be given by Professor Peter Norreys from the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford.
Improving happiness: exploring nature at its most fundamental level
Professor Peter Norreys
Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Institute identified Finland as the Happiest Country in the World in 2025, largely due the freedom to live one’s life’s choices, good education, and connection to nature, among others. I contend that we can contribute to our own nation’s happiness by building upon these qualities by reinforcing the strong and supportive LGBTA+ culture here and by delving deeply into topical state-of-the-art research questions. In this talk, I will illustrate this by discussing the emerging field of light on gravity, with the aim of bringing terrestrial sources of gravitation wave generation and detection within experimental reach. Realising such a system would mark the first instance of controlled generation of gravitational radiation, completing laboratory access to all four fundamental forces of nature.
Refreshments
This lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in the Martin Wood Foyer.
This year's event has been sponsored by Pride in STEM, a charity which helps to support and showcase LGBT+ people in STEM.
This event is free to attend and registration is not required.