Festival of Physics comes to Exeter

Some of the South West’s most exciting physicists are coming to the University of Exeter on Saturday 21 November to talk planets, astronomy, wind, rain and light for the Festival of Physics.

Ran by the South West regional branch of the Institute of Physics (IOP), the day will include a whole host of talks and activities ran by world-class physicists on topics including space and astronomy, climate change and meteorology.
                                                                                                                       
The Festival of Physics is free of charge to attend and is open to all individuals. To celebrate the International Year of Light, the festival will provide a fascinating insight into light as used in medicine and astronomy as well as talks on climate change and weather prediction.

The Festival of Physics will be opened by the IOPs current President, Professor Roy Sambles, experimental physicist from the University of Exeter.

As a special addendum there will be a special physics-based play “What’s The Matter?” - a quantum comedy about love in the subatomic world.

This is running at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, Devon, on Sunday 22nd, from 7pm to 8.30pm. Entrance is free, and tickets are available here.

Miranda Addey, IOP South West Regional Officer, said, “This will be bigger and better than last year and there will be something for everyone with an interest in science.

“The speakers are all fantastic and the play on Sunday is brilliant, hugely entertaining but educational as well. It’s genuinely a fun insight into particle physics.”

Tickets for the Festival of Physics are available to book here.

THE FESTIVAL OF PHYSICS FULL LINE UP

SATURDAY 21ST NOV: 09:30
Event open and registration

SESSION 1: 09:45

Introduction by Professor Roy Sambles, Institute of Physics President, and Professor of Experimental Physics from University of Exeter

TALK: Light - A Powerful New Tool Focused on Defeating Cancer
Professor Nick Stone, University of Exeter

11:00 BREAK

SESSION 2: 11:15

TALK: Planets in the Shadows
Dr Zoe Leinhardt, University of Bristol

TALK: Astronomy in 3D
Dr Stijn Wuyts, University of Bath

12:30 LUNCH

SESSION 3: 13.30

TALK: The Use of Numerical Models in Assessing Future Risk of Global Climate Change
Dr Colin Jones, head of the joint Met Office/ NERC UK Earth System Model (UKESM) project

TALK: Numerical Weather Prediction – Fifty Years of Progress, and More To Come!
Professor Dale Barker, Head of Data Assimilation and Ensembles (DEA) of Weather Science, Met Office

14:45 BREAK

SESSION 4: 15:00
3 Minute Wonder Competition: Come and watch as early career researchers try to sum up their work in 3 minute, bite-sized speeches

16:30 CLOSE

SATURDAY 22ND NOV: 19:00

“What’s the matter?”
A quantum comedy about love in the subatomic world

20:00 CLOSE

Travel grants are also being offered to school parties if needed, please contact IOP’s Regional Officer in the South West, Miranda Addey, on 07795 831524 or email miranda.addey@iop.org.