Science Cafe: How quantum physics democratized music: a meditation on physics and technology

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The Swansea Science Cafe offers opportunities to find out more about new, exciting and topical areas of science in an informal and entertaining way.

Title: How quantum physics democratized music: a meditation on physics and technology

Speaker: Professor Sir Michael Berry FRS, University of Bristol

Date: Wednesday 26th October

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

Admission: Free, all welcome

This talk looks at how connections between physics and technological invention and aspects of human life that seem far from science are both unexpected and unexpectedly common.

Rather than flowing one way - from physics to gadgets - the connections form an intricate web, linking all aspects of human culture, in a way that frustrates our convenient divisions into compartments. 

Professor Berry will discuss this theme not abstractly but with examples, ranging from music to the colour of gold, and explain how quantum physics helps him do quantum physics.

The talk is co-sponsored by The Learned Society of Wales.

Find out more about Swansea Science Cafe

About Science Cafe Wales

Each month, a leading expert in their field will give a brief introductory talk followed by a friendly informal chat. You can sit back, relax with a drink and listen or get involved in the discussion and debate. The Science Café organisers are committed to promoting public engagement with science and to making science accountable.

Science Café Wales are held in casual settings in Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor. They are informal and accessible and entrance is entirely free. They usually start with a short talk from the speaker, usually a scientist or writer, followed by a quick break and then an hour or so of discussion afterwards.

Previous topics have included dark matter, the common cold, Dr Who, the Big Bang and alternative therapies.

The first Cafes Scientifiques in the UK were held in Leeds in 1998. From there cafés gradually spread across the country.

Currently, some 40 or so cafés meet regularly to hear scientists or writers on science talk about their work and discuss it with diverse audiences.