51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Controlled Quantum Dynamics students give presentations to the general public to educate them about scientific research.

Each year, the new students working in Controlled Quantum Dynamics, along with the new students on the Frontiers of Quantum Technology course, give presentations to the general public to educate them about scientific research in an entertaining and engaging way. The event is run by Dr Simon Foster, the centre’s outreach officer, and Friends of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College, an organisation which provides opportunities to learn about advances in science, medicine and technology from academics at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

The most challenging aspect of getting across new ideas and concepts to an audience of this type is to make the material accessible to people who have most likely not had any scientific education since school. This is particularly difficult if you spend most of your working time with colleagues who are as knowledgeable as you are – many academics become quite isolated from the rest of society in this way.

To help the students to give suitable presentations, they were given the broad theme of what they love about science, allowing their creativity to flow unrestricted. The result was a wide variety of topics, ranging from fundamental aspects of the universe, to the technological applications of scientific research, and even the history and nature of science itself. There were practical demonstrations to keep the audience entertained, including the use of a vacuum chamber to cool a gin and tonic, popping balloons with a handheld laser, and demonstrating the wisdom of the crowd by asking attendees to estimate the number of M&M’s in a jar.

The show was a great success, with audience members engaging the students in thought-provoking discussions at a drinks reception afterwards, and the next generation of quantum physicists gaining some invaluable experience in scientific outreach.