With 2005 being World Year of Physics, this particular field of science is being celebrated in style by some international physicists of note at this year’s Sasol SciFest.
One of them is Professor Neil Turok. Born in South Africa, Turok now holds the chair of mathematical physics at Cambridge University in England and is a world leader in the field of theoretical cosmology, the attempt to connect fundamental physical theories of gravity and particle physics to real-world astronomical observations. He is giving a lecture on the search for a complete history of the cosmos at the Monument Guy Butler Theatre on Monday March 21 at 4.30pm.
Wendy Sadler from the Welsh capital of Cardiff is no stranger to Sasol SciFest. In her third visit to the festival she will be looking at whether electronics and technology will ever replace the skills of human musicians.
Sadler graduated from Cardiff University in 1994 with a BSc in physics and music with the intention of becoming a sound engineer! However, she got sidetracked working for the Techniquest Science Centre in Cardiff and caught the communication bug presenting science shows. There then followed a period in television presenting science shows and a year in Australia, where she worked at science centres across the country before returning to Techniquest as its public programmes manager. Currently she works part time in the physics and astronomy department at Cardiff University and runs her own business called Science Made Simple.
Sadler will be presenting a talk on Music versus Machine at the Monument Guy Butler Theatre on March 16 at 2pm.
On a lighter note, literally, Dr Tanya Lake is an ambassador of physics researching the interaction of light and matter. Assistant to the head of the optical trapping group within the school of physics and astronomy at Scotland’s St Andrews University, Lake will be giving a lecture on optical tweezing — real-life tractor beams which use a tightly focused laser to move small particles of matter without making contact with them. She will be lecturing at the Monument Olive Schreiner Hall on Monday March 21 at 3.30pm.
Lake is also running a daily workshop called Tripping the Light Fantastic at the Monument lower ground floor Gallery-in-the-Round at 10am, 11.30am and 2.15pm.