Elegant Universe: Discovering Cosmic Principles
Why is physics so central? What are its deepest contradictions? Where are our best clues to resolving them? What pitfalls must we avoid? What are the prospects for the future?
The laws of physics govern everything from subatomic quantum particles to the cosmos. Yet, despite their astonishing range and successes, deep contradictions remain. Recent observations of the universe have revealed surprising simplicity and order, providing powerful clues to how these puzzles might be resolved. They encourage us to look beyond currently popular paradigms, to re-examine our prior prejudices and to find simpler and more powerful explanations. The search for understanding connects us and inspires us to look to the future with hope.
This event has the generous support of the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena via the national consortium Emergence At All Scales.
Talk by
Neil Turok
Born in South Africa to anti-apartheid activists, Neil Turok is a world-leading cosmologist. After studies in Cambridge, London and California, he was Professor of Physics at Princeton, Chair of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge and then Director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada. He is now the Higgs Chair of Theoretical Physics in Edinburgh. Neil’s research focuses on developing and testing theories of the cosmos. His predictions about the radiation from the big bang including its polarization pattern and correlation with the galaxy distribution, caused by dark energy, were experimentally confirmed. He has disproved a number of popular theories using both theoretical arguments and comparison with observation. In 2003, Neil founded the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) which operates centres in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda. With over 4,000 alumni, AIMS now runs leading-edge programs in AI, epidemiology, quantum computing and other fields.
Music by
BERTHAJU
BERTHAJU is a female gaze indie rock band based in Rotterdam (NL). Along with songs about old white men getting divorced, and caring less about what other people think, you can expect a full-on show with choreography and the bass player breaking his legs while jumping. A must-see for fans of Wet Leg, Orla Gartland, and Paramore, BERTHAJU is not leaving the stage until everyone is sweating and dancing their ass off.
