Apparently, trees are ‘roughly’ fractal. As for fractals themselves, there’s this from the Fractal Foundation’s What are Fractals? webpage,
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[downloaded from https://fractalfoundation.org/resources/what-are-fractals/]
A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop. Driven by recursion, fractals are images of dynamic systems – the pictures of Chaos. Geometrically, they exist in between our familiar dimensions. Fractal patterns are extremely familiar, since nature is full of fractals. For instance: trees, rivers, coastlines, mountains, clouds, seashells, hurricanes, etc. Abstract fractals – such as the Mandelbrot Set – can be generated by a computer calculating a simple equation over and over.
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Caption: Piet Mondrian painted the same tree in “The gray tree” (left) and “Blooming apple tree” (right). Viewers can readily discern the tree in “The gray tree” with a branch diameter scaling exponent of 2.8. In “Blooming apple tree,” all the brush strokes have roughly the same thickness and viewers report seeing fish, water and other non-tree things. Credit: Kunstmuseum Den Haag
While artistic beauty may be a matter of taste, our ability to identify trees in works of art may be connected to objective—and relatively simple—mathematics, according to a new study.
Led by researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of New Mexico, the study investigated how the relative thickness of a tree’s branching boughs affected its tree-like appearance.
This idea has been studied for centuries by artists, including Leonardo DaVinci [Leonardo da Vinci], but the researchers brought a newer branch of math into the equation to reveal deeper insights.
“There are some characteristics of the art that feel like they’re aesthetic or subjective, but we can use math to describe it,” said Jingyi Gao, lead author of the study. “I think that’s pretty cool.”
Gao performed the research as an undergraduate in the U-M Department of Mathematics, working with Mitchell Newberry, now a research assistant professor at UNM and an affiliate of the U-M Center for the Study of Complex Systems. Gao is now a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin.
In particular, the researchers revealed one quantity related to the complexity and proportions of a tree’s branches that artists have preserved and played with to affect if and how viewers perceive a tree.
“We’ve come up with something universal here that kind of applies to all trees in art and in nature,” said Newberry, senior author of the study. “It’s at the core of a lot of different depictions of trees, even if they’re in different styles and different cultures or centuries.”
The work is published in the journal PNAS [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] Nexus.
As a matter of fractals
The math the duo used to approach their question of proportions is rooted in fractals. Geometrically speaking, fractals are structures that repeat the same motifs across different scales.
Fractals are name-dropped in the Oscar-winning smash hit “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen,” making it hard to argue there’s a more popular physical example than the self-repeating crystal geometries of snowflakes. But biology is also full of important fractals, including the branching structures of lungs, blood vessels and, of course, trees.
“Fractals are just figures that repeat themselves,” Gao said. “If you look at a tree, its branches are branching. Then the child branches repeat the figure of the parent branch.”
In the latter half of the 20th century, mathematicians introduced a number that is referred to as a fractal dimension to quantify the complexity of a fractal. In their study, Gao and Newberry analyzed an analogous number for tree branches, which they called the branch diameter scaling exponent. Branch diameter scaling describes the variation in branch diameter in terms of how many smaller branches there are per larger branch.
“We measure branch diameter scaling in trees and it plays the same role as fractal dimension,” Newberry said. “It shows how many more tiny branches there are as you zoom in.”
While bridging art and mathematics, Gao and Newberry worked to keep their study as accessible as possible to folks from both realms and beyond. Its mathematical complexity maxes out with the famous—or infamous, depending on how you felt about middle school geometry—Pythagorean theorem: a2 + b2 = c2.
Roughly speaking, a and b can be thought of as the diameter of smaller branches stemming from a larger branch with diameter c. The exponent 2 corresponds to the branch diameter scaling exponent, but for real trees its value can be between about 1.5 and 3.
The researchers found that, in works of art that preserved that factor, viewers were able to easily recognize trees—even if they had been stripped of other distinguishing features.
Artistic experimentation
For their study, Gao and Newberry analyzed artwork from around the world, including 16th century stone window carvings from the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in India, an 18th century painting called “Cherry Blossoms” by Japanese artist Matsumuara Goshun and two early 20th century works by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian.
It was the mosque carvings in India that initially inspired the study. Despite their highly stylized curvy, almost serpentine branches, these trees have a beautiful, natural sense of proportion to them, Newberry said. That got him wondering if there might be a more universal factor in how we recognize trees. The researchers took a clue from DaVinci’s [sic] analysis of trees to understand that branch thickness was important.
Looking at the branch diameter scaling factor, Gao and Newberry found that some of the carvings had values closer to real trees than the tree in “Cherry Blossoms,” which appears more natural.
“That was actually quite surprising for me because Goshun’s painting is more realistic,” Gao said.
Newberry shared that sentiment and hypothesized that having a more realistic branch diameter scaling factor enables artists to take trees in more creative directions and have them still appear as trees.
“As you abstract away details and still want viewers to recognize this as a beautiful tree, then you may have to be closer to reality in some other aspects,” Newberry said.
Mondrian’s work provided a serendipitous experiment to test this thinking. He painted a series of pieces depicting the same tree, but in different, increasingly abstract ways. For his 1911 work “De grijze boom” (“The gray tree”), Mondrian had reached a point in the series where he was representing the tree with just a series of black lines against a gray background.
“If you show this painting to anyone, it’s obviously a tree,” Newberry said. “But there’s no color, no leaves and not even branching, really.”
The researchers found that Mondrian’s branch scaling exponent fell in the real tree range at 2.8. For Mondrian’s 1912 “Bloeiende appelboom” (“Blooming apple tree”), however, that scaling is gone, as is the consensus that the object is a tree.
“People see dancers, fish scales, water, boats, all kinds of things,” Newberry said. “The only difference between these two paintings—they’re both black strokes on a basically gray background—is whether there is branch diameter scaling.”
Gao designed the study and measured the first trees as part of her U-M Math Research Experience for Undergraduates project supported by the James Van Loo Applied Mathematics and Physics Undergraduate Support Fund. Newberry undertook the project as a junior fellow of the Michigan Society of Fellows. Both researchers acknowledged how important interdisciplinary spaces at Michigan were to the study.
“We could not have done this research without interaction between the Center for the Study of Complex Systems and the math department. This center is a very special thing about U of M, where math flourishes as a common language to talk across disciplinary divides,” Newberry said. “And I have been really inspired by conversations that put mathematicians and art historians at the same table as part of the Society of Fellows.”
Caption: Leonardo da Vinci’s sketch of a tree illustrates the principle that combined thickness is preserved at different stages of ramification. Credit: Institut de France Manuscript M, p. 78v.
The math that describes the branching pattern of trees in nature also holds for trees depicted in art—and may even underlie our ability to recognize artworks as depictions of trees.
Trees are loosely fractal, branching forms that repeat the same patterns at smaller and smaller scales from trunk to branch tip. Jingyi Gao and Mitchell Newberry examine scaling of branch thickness in depictions of trees and derive mathematical rules for proportions among branch diameters and for the approximate number of branches of different diameters. The authors begin with Leonardo da Vinci’s observation that trees limbs preserve their thickness as they branch. The parameter α, known as the radius scaling exponent in self-similar branching, determines the relationships between the diameters of the various branches. If the thickness of a branch is always the same as the summed thickness of the two smaller branches, as da Vinci asserts, then the parameter α would be 2. The authors surveyed trees in art, selected to cover a broad geographical range and also for their subjective beauty, and found values from 1.5 to 2.8, which correspond to the range of natural trees. Even abstract works of art that don’t visually show branch junctions or treelike colors, such as Piet Mondrian’s cubist Gray Tree, can be visually identified as trees if a realistic value for α is used. By contrast, Mondrian’s later painting, Blooming Apple Tree, which sets aside scaling in branch diameter, is not recognizable as a tree. According to the authors, art and science provide complementary lenses on the natural and human worlds.
Caption: A new biomaterial developed by Penn State engineers mimics a key building block of human tissue, extracellular matrices, which act like scaffolding and enable cells to heal after damage. Credit: Sheikhi Research Group/Penn State
A biomaterial that can mimic certain behaviors within biological tissues could advance regenerative medicine, disease modeling, soft robotics and more, according to researchers at Penn State.
Materials created up to this point to mimic tissues and extracellular matrices (ECMs) — the body’s biological scaffolding of proteins and molecules that surrounds and supports tissues and cells — have all had limitations that hamper their practical applications, according to the team. To overcome some of those limitations, the researchers developed a bio-based, “living” material that encompasses self-healing properties and mimics the biological response of ECMs to mechanical stress.
“We developed a cell-free — or acellular — material that dynamically mimics the behavior of ECMs, which are key building blocks of mammalian tissues that are crucial for tissue structure and cell functions,” said corresponding author Amir Sheikhi, associate professor of chemical engineering and the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Biomaterials and Regenerative Engineering.
According to the researchers, previous iterations of their material — a hydrogel, or water-rich polymer network — were synthetic and lacked the desired combination of mechanical responsiveness and biological mimicry of ECMs.
“Specifically, these materials need to replicate nonlinear strain-stiffening, which is when ECM networks stiffen under strain caused by physical forces exerted by cells or external stimuli,” Sheikhi said, explaining nonlinear strain-stiffening is important for providing structural support and facilitating cell signaling. “The materials also need to replicate the self-healing properties necessary for tissue structure and survival. Prior synthetic hydrogels had difficulties in balancing material complexity, biocompatibility and mechanical mimicry of ECMs.”
The team addressed these limitations by developing acellular nanocomposite living hydrogels (LivGels) made from “hairy” nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are composed of nanocrystals, or “nLinkers,” with disordered cellulose chains, or “hairs,” at the ends [from the published paper, bifunctional dynamic linker nanoparticle (nLinker), bearing semi-flexible aldehyde- and carboxylate-modified cellulose chains attached to rigid cellulose nanocrystals]. These hairs introduce anisotropy, meaning the nLinkers have different properties depending on their directional orientation and allow dynamic bonding with biopolymer networks. In this case, the nanoparticles bonded with a biopolymeric matrix of modified alginate, which is a natural polysaccharide found in brown algae.
“These nLinkers form dynamic bonds within the matrix that enable strain-stiffening behavior, that is, mimicking ECM’s response to mechanical stress; and self-healing properties, which restore integrity after damage,” Sheikhi said, noting that the researchers used rheological testing, which measures how material behaves under various stressors, to measure how rapidly the LivGels recovered their structure after high strain. “This design approach allowed fine-tuning of the material’s mechanical properties to match those of natural ECMs.”
Critically, Sheikhi said, this material is entirely made of biological materials and avoids synthetic polymers with potential biocompatibility issues. Beyond mitigating the limitations of previously developed materials, LivGels achieve the dual traits of nonlinear mechanics and self-healing without sacrificing structural integrity. The nLinkers specifically facilitate dynamic interactions that allow precise control of stiffness and strain-stiffening properties. Taken together, the design approach converts bulk, static hydrogels to dynamic hydrogels that closely mimic ECMs.
The potential applications include scaffolding for tissue repair and regeneration within regenerative medicine, simulating tissue behavior for drug testing and creating realistic environments for studying disease progression. The researchers said it could also be used for 3D bioprinting customizable hydrogels or for developing soft robotics with adaptable mechanical properties.
“Our next steps include optimizing LivGels for specific tissue types, exploring in vivo applications for regenerative medicine, integrating LivGels with 3D bioprinting platforms and investigating potential in dynamic wearable or implantable devices,” Sheikhi said.
Roya Koshani, a chemical engineering post-doctoral scholar at Penn State, and Sina Kheirabadi, a doctoral candidate in chemical engineering at Penn State, were co-authors on the paper. Sheikhi is also affiliated with the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, of Chemistry and of Neurosurgery, and with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.
Support for this research was provided by Penn State, including from: the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair; the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems and the Cluster of Excellence Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems Living Multifunctional Materials Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program; the Materials Research Institute; and the College of Engineering Materials Matter at the Human Level seed grants.
This February 10, 2025 article on phys.org was a bit of a surprise as I haven’t seen Marshall McLuhan mentioned in a very long time, Note 1: Links have been removed, Note 2: There’s more (not much) about Marshall McLuhan in the next excerpt,
In recent decades, museums and galleries have made a sensory turn when it comes to designing displays and engaging visitors.
Museums like the Metropolitan in New York offer multi-sensory activities so visitors so can smell, touch and hear art, and museums have curated exhibitions about the senses.
The move is part of larger efforts to make public institutions more accessible.
It’s also aligned with museum and gallery institutional efforts to decolonize governance structures, and widen opportunities for museum and gallery participation from Indigenous and Global South artists and their communities, who have long been marginalized. Museums and galleries have sought to shape policy, reinterpret and repatriate artifacts stolen from Indigenous and Global South societies in response to social movements, community advocacy and decolonial theory.
Thinkers like Taiaiake Alfred have written about Indigenous cultural resurgence and resistance to colonialism, and shaped a questioning of curatorial practices.
As anthropologist David Howes argues, museums’ questioning of traditional forms of museum display and visitor engagement is aligned with the kind of re-ordering traditionally associated with unsettling colonial regimes.
In my forthcoming study, Harley Parker: The McLuhan of the Museum, I examine the influence of exhibition designer and painter Harley Parker (1915-92) on this “sensory turn” in museum curatorial practices.
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A February 10, 2025 article for The Conversation by Gary A Genosko (Professor of Communication and Digital Media, Ontario Tech University), which originated the phys.org piece, delves further into the topic of his forthcoming book (publication date: May 15, 2025), Note: Links have been removed,
Parker was head of design at the Royal Ontario Museum [ROM] for 11 years from 1957-68. By applying media theorist and philosopher Marshall McLuhan’s ideas to museums, Parker created what has become known as “multi-sensory museology.” It is only beginning to be recognized as a precursor to the sensory museology in practice today.
Head of design at the ROM
Beyond being head of design at the ROM, Parker was an influential media thinker and a longtime collaborator of McLuhan’s.
Parker’s name is not yet well known. One reason is that his book manuscript, The Culture Box: Museums Are Today, was lost for almost 50 years.
Working with Parker’s children, I uncovered a typescript and will be bringing it into print. Retitled The Culture Box: Museums as Media, it contains detailed discussions of how Parker conceived of exhibition display through the lens of McLuhan’s idea that all media were sensory extensions of human capacities
Multisensory design
For Parker, the museum became a laboratory in which a designer could experiment with multi-sensory exhibition designs. These reflected McLuhan’s claim that new electronic media supplanted an older visually oriented linear model with a non-linear, aural-tactile environment.
Getting beyond the close link between visibility and linear thinking was one of main pillars of Parker’s efforts.
Between 1963 and 1967, Parker was considering designing with alternative orchestrations of perception, especially with regard to displays of Indigenous artifacts. He didn’t, however, achieve a fusion of what current sensory studies scholars call “sensory decolonization.”
In museums, “sensory decolonization” refers to shifting sensory and cultural perceptions around the meaning of “artifacts” from Indigenous or Global South communities. It means revisiting assumptions about protocols for engaging with or handling these, and developing new ethical protocols in relationship with communities.
Parker investigated the necessity of changing sensory assumptions around the display of artifacts, but lacked a decolonial critique.
Hypothetical exhibits
In the early 1960s, Parker published essays on hypothetical exhibits of Indigenous artefacts in the museum’s holdings.
He considered using recordings of Indigenous languages, visitor-controlled heating, cooling and lighting, odours, as well as multi-media projections. He tried to provoke, through design, some empathetic correlation between the mental modes of a contemporary museum visitor and the sensory attitudes of an Indigenous maker and creator of objects.
He linked the reordering of the senses with calls for greater community involvement in museums. He also expressed frustration about museum elitism and the gulf between philanthropic culture and visitors’ concerns.
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Genosko’s February 10, 2025 article goes on to mention the changes that have been attempted, in some situations more successfully than others, to incorporate principles of decolonization and inclusion. It also describes one of Parker’s more avant-garde ideas, a ‘newseum’, a space for multi-sensory and multimedia exhibitions..
I don’t usually advertise for authors but I have a soft spot these days for Marshall McLuhan (Canadian communications theorist and philosopher) and Parker’s ideas sound interesting to me. You can order “Harley Parker; The McLuhan of the Museum” by Gary Genosko, published May 15, 2025 by the University of Alberta Press here.
Today (May 19, 2025) I have two stories, one about a new nano comic from the Czech republic and one with an overview of some nano comic books from the past.
Czech Academy of Sciences and Secrets of the Nano-World
How many nanometres does your hand measure? Why does nothing stand still in the nano- world? And what does atomic force microscopy allow us to do? This and more is revealed in the new comic book Secrets of the Nano-World, published by the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The comic book introduces the frequently mentioned, but rarely taught topic of nanotechnology to (not only) students and teachers.
It was the end of 1959 when physicist Richard Feynman, in his lecture “There is plenty of room at the bottom”, presented visions of the then-unimaginable miniaturisation and its consequences. Today, we encounter nanotechnology at every turn, often without realising it. How did we get here, how can we even imagine a nanoscale world, and where is nanotechnology heading? That’s what Sofia and Alex, high school students on a science internship, find out in the comic, as they are mysteriously transported back in time to the very moments of Feynman’s lecture and try to get back to their own present.
“Taking Sofia and Alex back in time allowed us to introduce the inventions that made the development of nanotechnology possible,” explains Julie Nekola Nováková, the story’s creator and a member of the outreach team at the Institute of Physics (FZU). “We would never have gotten to where we are without, say, the atomic force microscope. And how difficult is it to manipulate individual atoms? Readers can try that out on a larger scale with a little experiment!”
Prokop Hapala, who is involved in computational design of molecular machines at the FZU, consulted on the scientific and technical side of the comic. “I think it’s important for students to think of molecules not as abstract formulas on paper, but real objects that can be touched, broken and built again,” Prokop Hapala explains.
The comic was drawn by the artist Vojtěch Šeda, known mainly for his illustrations of historical books and comics. “What I enjoy about drawing comics is when I learn something new in the process,” says Vojtěch Šeda. “In the case of the comic about nanotechnology, which was a big step into the unknown for me at the beginning, this was 100% true.”
The authors have further plans for the comic book. “If you’ve had a chance to read it, you’ll know there’s room for a possible sequel… There are also plans for using elements of the comic in worksheets, infographics and physics-themed colouring pages,” explains Julie Nekola Nováková.
The comic book is freely available under the Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0, making it possible to translate it to other languages and otherwise use in science outreach and education across the globe.
Provided by Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
The educational comic book Secrets of the Nano- World is intended primarily for pupils of secondary schools and high schools. Its protagonists are two high school students Sofie and Alex, who mysteriously find themselves in the past during their internship – at the very end of 1959 at the time of Richard Feynman’s lecture that essentially launched the field of nanotechnology. And it is the famous scientist who is drawn into trying to help Alex and Sofie get back to their own time. To do so, however, they’ll need considerable knowledge of the world in the nano- dimensions…
h/t May 7, 2025 Google Alert
(Nano)technology in Comics (mostly from the NanoKOMIK Project)
Comic books are popular science communication vehicles that have their up and down cycles. Right now (2025) they seem to be experiencing the up part of the cycle. In doing a little research I stumbled across this article from last year, which critically analyzed the 2016 – 2017 NanoKOMIK Project,
Representations of science and technology, embodied as imaginaries, visions, and expectations, have become a growing focus of analysis. These representations are of interest to normative approaches to science and technology, such as Hermeneutic Technology Assessment and Responsible Innovation, because of their ability to modulate understandings of science and technology and to influence scientific and technological development. This article analyses the culture of participation underlying the NanoKOMIK project and the representations and meanings of (nano)science and (nano)technology communicated in the two nano-fiction comic books created as part of the project: Dayanne and Murillo. The power of nanoscience (2016) and NanoKOMIK #2 (2017). The article argues that despite NanoKOMIK’s efforts to engage the public with (nano)science and (nano)technology, it reproduces non-binding modes of public participation and transmits socio-technical meanings that are instrumental in the social legitimisation of (nano)technology. More specifically, the analysis shows that NanoKOMIK’s comic books, in addition to not problematising the risks and conveying an eminently positive view of nanotechnology, also communicate certain ‘myth-conceptions’ of scientific activity and its products. For example, they convey an individualistic and linear vision of research and innovation and an instrumentalist and neutral (or ‘value-free’) view of technology. These findings highlight the importance of critically analysing the ‘cultures of participation’ that characterise and reproduce ‘participatory’ or ‘collaborative’ projects and the representations of (nano)science and (nano)technology that they perpetuate.
I was particularly interested in this section from the paper’s Introduction, Note: Links have been removed,
A growing body of literature has highlighted the various benefits of comics in stimulating imagination and learning, especially among young people inside and outside the classroom. Comics are expected to help broaden thematic knowledge and promote greater engagement with science (e.g. [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21]). Although it is recognised that implementing comics as an educational and engagement tool requires appropriate mediation, this creative and communicative medium is seen as a fruitful resource for improving the meaning-making processes in science and technology (e.g. [22]). Despite the limited exploration of comics as a communication tool in the specific field of nanotechnology, there is support for the idea that comics can benefit specific target groups in several respects (e.g. [23, 24]).
Inspired by the creative potential of comics, several projects have been launched to develop and disseminate comic strips focusing on nanotechnology ‘superpowers’, particularly targeting middle- and high-school students. Examples include (i) Nano BlasterMan (2005), produced by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education; (ii) Dayanne and Murillo. The power of nanoscience (2016) and NanoKOMIK #2 (2017), produced as part of the ‘NanoKOMIK’ project (2016–2017) and co-funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (see https://www.nanokomik.com); and (iii) the comic competition ‘Generation Nano! Superheroes Inspired by Science!’ (2017), funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Nanotechnology Initiative of the United States (see http://nsf.gov/GenNano). [all emphases mine]
I always appreciate learning about comics and science communication efforts even if it happens 20 years after the fact (e.g., Nano BlasterMan from 2005). As for the ‘Generation Nano! …’ US competition, that seems to have run from 2016 to 2018. I have announcements for winners of the 2016 competition in my April 21, 2016 posting and winners of the 2017 competition in my July 10, 2017 posting. There was, apparently, a 2018 competition but all I have is a notice that there be an announcement of the 2018 winners at the 2018 USA Science & Engineering Festival (in my October 9, 2017 posting; scroll down about 40% of the way ) but never followed up with the winners’ announcement—until now! See this April 6, 2018 US National Science Foundation news release on EurekAlert. I can’t find any mention of a 2019 competition.
Getting back on track, this paper is quite accessible (assuming you can stomach some amount of jargon) and timely given what seems to be a resurgence of interest in using comic books for science communication.
One last thing, you can find the NanoKOMIC Project here, although it does not seem to be an active project at this time.
Part 1 of the “Six Great Ideas That Changed the World” took place on October 8, 2024 (as per my October 3, 2024 posting). Now for Part 2, from a May 3, 2025 ARPICO (Society of Italian Researchers & Professionals in Western Canada) notice (received via email),
Just a month has passed since our last gathering, and we’re thrilled to invite you to our final public event before summer, “Six Great Ideas That Changed Science and the World (Part 2),” featuring the distinguished Prof. Douw G. Steyn, to be held on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Museum of Vancouver, History Room, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, BC.
We are honored to once again host Prof. Douw G. Steyn, Professor Emeritus in Atmospheric Science at The University of British Columbia. Prof. Steyn is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in air pollution meteorology and boundary layer dynamics. His contributions to environmental research, education, and international consultancy have earned him prestigious awards, including the UBC Killam Teaching Prize and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society’s Andrew Thompson Prize.
You may recall the first part of his compelling talk last fall, where he explored:
Evolution by Natural Selection
DNA, RNA, and the Mechanism of Heredity
The Periodic Table of the Elements
In Part 2 of this series, Prof. Steyn will illuminate three more revolutionary ideas and the brilliant minds behind them:
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity
Mathematics
See below for more details.
YOU ARE INVITED
Date: Thursday, May 22nd, 2025
Location: Museum of Vancouver, History Room, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, BC
Check-in: 6:30 PM, to get your seat and have a cup of coffee
There is yet more to this invitation including some details as to about the ideas in part 2 of this talk,
Evening Details
ADMISSION TICKETS ARE MANDATORY
Admission Tickets for this event are MANDATORY, but FREE; all wishing to attend are requested to obtain “free-admission” tickets on EventBrite. Click the “Reserve a Spot” button on the Eventbrite page. Tickets are necessary to help organizers plan for room capacity, fire regulations, and refreshment needs. Please be sure to supply the first name, surname and email of each person in your order.
Admission Cost? – We don’t charge for admission to the event. A special thank you to the ARPICO members who generously cover the venue and equipment rentals, speaker travel, and thank-you costs for regular events throughout the year. Their support allows us to offer free admission to all attendees.
Donations for ARPICO’s Scholarship Fund – Your donation helps ensure the continuation of our educational initiatives. If you enjoy attending ARPICO public lectures and appreciate the opportunity to engage with the speaker and fellow attendees, please consider donating to support our Scholarship Fund. Not ready? That’s alright. Decide after you have experienced the evening’s full offering. ARPICO is pleased to accept donations at the venue as well.
Six Great Ideas That Changed Science and the World (Part 2)
In the second part of this two-part series, Prof. Steyn will illuminate three more revolutionary ideas and the brilliant minds behind them:
Quantum Mechanics – Einstein single handedly overturned our understanding of energy at a molecular and sub-atomic level. The idea of energy quantization explained the three great outstanding ideas of physics in the early 1900s, and laid open the way for a deep understanding of matter. Today we have LED lights, quantum computing, nuclear power (and bombs).
Relativity – Einstein single handedly overturned our ideas of the absolute nature of space and time. The discovery (together with quantum mechanics) has lead to a deeper understanding of the origins of the universe, but also to essential applications like GPS navigation and satellite orbital dynamics.
Mathematics – All of science is embedded in mathematics, which is both the queen of sciences and the servant of all sciences. As an example, Prof. Steyn will present Fermat’s last theorem, and its 300 year delayed solution.
About Our Speaker
Douw G. Steyn PhD, ACM, FCMOS is a Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Science at The University of British Columbia, in the Department of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. His professional, teaching and research activities are in the field of air pollution meteorology, boundary layer meteorology, mesoscale meteorology, environmental science and interdisciplinary science. His research involves measurement and modelling studies of regional air pollution, especially in regions with complex terrain. He has worked extensively on the statistics of air pollution, air pollution monitoring and monitoring network design. He is winner of a UBC Killam Teaching Prize, the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Andrew Thompson Prize in Applied Meteorology, and the Canadian Federation for Earth Sciences Mentorship Medal. He has served as Chair of the scientific committee that leads the International Technical Meeting series on Air Pollution Modelling and its Application. He has published regularly in the international peer reviewed literature, and served as Director of Publications for the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. He is an Accredited Consulting Meteorologist, and has international consultancy experience in his areas of expertise, and has provided expert testimony in numerous court cases, appeal board hearings and environmental assessment panels in British Columbia, and Nationally.
This May 10, 2025 article by Salma Ibrahim for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) news online website illustrates the timeliness of the upcoming Agriculture and Agrifood Sector panel, Note: Links have been removed,
As Canada’s reliance on U.S. produce hits the spotlight, one Ontario farmer has a pitch: locally grown, year-round produce, grown by artificial intelligence and automation.
In a sprawling two-hectare greenhouse, partially tucked inside a wooden red barn in King City, Ont., an animated Jay Willmot, farmer and entrepreneur, shared his vision.
“From sowing and seeding, all the way through to harvest and packing, no one touches this crop,” he said in front of rows and rows of lettuce shoots.
Instead, multimillion-dollar AI and machinery does the work; the whirring and clicking of conveyor belts, hooks and levers, fills the space that was once part of his family’s horse farm.
Willmot built his business, Haven Greens, to tackle the Canadian winter and a laundry list of obstacles that farmers face — from high labour costs to unpredictable weather. He’s not alone; federal and provincial governments have offered incentives to encourage automation.
Some experts do urge caution though — saying widespread adoption could have unintended consequences.
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Even before trade tensions pushed Canada’s dependence on U.S. produce back into the spotlight, there was a push to incentivize agricultural technology, to make Canada more self-sufficient.
In Ontario, for example, the government dished out $547,720 in 2021 to Great Lakes Greenhouses Inc, an operation in the heart of Leamington, Ont. — dubbed North America’s greenhouse capital for having the highest density of greenhouses on the continent. The cash was to help the company pilot an artificial intelligence system that would “allow greenhouse operators to remotely grow cucumbers and eggplant crops, reducing in-person contact,” a provincial press release reads.
B.C. also has an On-Farm Technology Adoption Program, offering cost-sharing funding for labour-saving tech like autonomous weeders, harvesters and sorters.
The country is heavily reliant on temporary foreign workers for farm labour. Nearly half of the people working in Canada’s agriculture sector were employed on a seasonal basis in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. It is a gap that Willmot believes automation can fill.
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I have not done justice to Ibrahim’s May 10, 2025 article, so, if you have the time, I recommend reading it in its entirety as it provides some insight into Canada’s current situation vis-à-vis agriculture and the pros and cons of new agricultural technology.
Getting back to the upcoming panel, here’s more from a May 8, 2025 Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) newsletter (received via email),
Panel on May 21 [2025]: Navigating Geopolitical Shifts: Canada’s Innovation Strategy for Agriculture and Agrifood Sector
The global agrifood sector is facing a period of unprecedented transformation, driven by shifting geopolitical landscapes, evolving trade relationships, climate pressures, and the growing influence of digital technologies. These forces are redefining how food is produced, processed, and moved across borders—bringing both significant risks and new opportunities for industry and governments alike.
Geopolitical shifts are transforming industries worldwide, and Canada is no exception. Canadian businesses and innovation ecosystems face new pressures to adapt in order to stay competitive in light of emerging trade disputes and other local and global challenges.
The goal is to stimulate dialogue on innovation challenges and opportunities in the agriculture and agrifood sector under changing conditions and to explore how Canadian industry and innovation policy can adapt to strengthen Canada’s competitive standing and safeguard our citizens’ well-being.
Each panel will bring together sector insiders and broader science, technology, and innovation (STI) stakeholders, ensuring a mix of perspectives. CSPC will publish a final report synthesizing the insights from the panel discussion. There is a planned symposium for the first morning of the conference that will further discuss the challenges and opportunities that present across all sectors.
Moderated by: Senator Mary Robinson
Prince Edward Islander, Senator
A proud Prince Edward Islander, Senator Mary Robinson was appointed to the Senate in January 2024. Coming from a 6th generation family farm operation, she has been a strong voice for industry at the provincial, national, and global levels. She was the first female Chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council, the first female President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and vice president of the World Farmers’ Organisation. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada by the Atlantic Business Magazine.
Joe Dales
Cofounder and Partner of RHA Ventures Inc.
Joe Dales has gained 35+ years of agriculture industry experience beginning his career in sales, marketing and management, working with leading companies such as Pfizer, Cyanamid Crop Protection (BASF) and NK Syngenta Seeds (Ciba Seeds).
In 1997, he co-founded with his wife Sandra, www.AgCareers.com, one of the first ag business websites on the internet and in 1998, he co-founded Farms.com, where he helped grow the business for 20 years. In 2019, he co-founded RHA Ventures Inc. and leads their value adding investments in the agriculture and food innovation and start-up sector. RHA (www.RHA.Ventures) has made more than 35 investments and continues to support entrepreneurs with hands on, experienced business mentoring.
Joe has been involved in successfully launching over 40 agri tech innovations ranging from crop protection products (Pursuit, Odyssey), seed varieties, herbicide tolerant canola, biologicals (HiStick), start up companies like Farms.com and AgCareers.com and a range of innovative products and services. He is passionate about bringing innovation to agriculture and helping farmers improve productivity.
Joe has gained extensive corporate governance board experience with several companies such as Canterra Seeds, Vive Crop Protection, Haggerty AgRobotics and as the Chair of the Board of Governors for the Western Fair Association. He has been a supporter of CAMA his whole career. Joe has an Honours BSc in Chemistry from Western University and a Masters in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Ian Affleck is the vice-president of plant biotechnology for CropLife Canada. In this role, Ian works with domestic and international agricultural stakeholders and governments on the development of policies, regulations, and science related to plant biotechnology. Prior to joining CropLife Canada, Ian worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for 10 years, where his work focused on the regulation of novel plants and new varieties. He holds a bachelor of science in agriculture from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, concentrating on agronomy and pest management. He also holds a master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Guelph, specializing in horticulture and plant breeding and has been involved in agriculture from an early age, having grown up on a potato farm in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island.
Kathleen Sullivan
Vice President, Government and Industry Relations, Maple Leaf Foods
She brings to the role 30 years of government, advocacy, trade, and food sector experience. This includes senior leadership positions at several industry organizations, including Food and Beverage Canada, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, and Restaurants Canada. She also spent three years as a senior policy advisor in the Ontario government, including to the Minister of Education and in the Cabinet Office.
Ms. Sullivan has a deep understanding of how business is affected by policy and regulatory frameworks and has been a key industry advisor on domestic food laws and on agri-food trade policy. She has also served as a senior industry lobbyist in major Canadian trade negotiations and trade missions.
Rodney Bierhuizen
President, Sunrise Greenhouses Ltd.
Rodney Bierhuizen is the owner and General Manager of Sunrise Greenhouses in Vineland, Ontario. Founded by his parents in 1982, a few years after immigrating from the Netherlands, Sunrise Greenhouses is a second-generation farm that has grown to operate four locations across Niagara, with over 1 million square feet of production. The company specializes in potted plants for retail markets and young plants for other producers across Canada and the U.S.
A key differentiator for Sunrise Greenhouses is its exclusive product lines, with in-house breeding and development of unique plant genetics that are licensed worldwide. Sunrise also has an inhouse automation firm- BOLD Robotics that supplies automation solutions to the agricultural sector.
Rodney is actively involved in the horticulture industry and agricultural advocacy. He currently serves as:
*Member of the Niagara Region Agricultural Action Committee and Vineland Research and Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Council
*President of Flower Canada Ontario
*Director on the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Association, Niagara Greenhouse Growers, and Greenhouse Growers Alliance of Lincoln
Dr. Steven R. Webb
CEO, Global Institute for Food Security
Steven joined the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) as Chief Executive Officer in 2019, following a 23-year career with Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow AgroSciences) in Indiana, United States. At GIFS, he has led the transformation of the institute to an agri-food connector and innovation catalyst, delivering valuable programs, technologies and services to scale up and accelerate R&D, deliver greater impact for Canada’s agri-food sector and enhance its global competitiveness.
His most recent role at Corteva was Research and Development Director of External Technology, where he led many research collaborations with private sector companies, research institutes and universities around the world.
Tiffany Stephenson
CMO, Protein Industries Canada
As CMO, Tiffany is responsible for member engagement, brand management and strategic communications to support Protein Industries Canada in their goals of growing the value-added processing sector in Western Canada, with a focus on creating plant-protein based products and co-products. With more than 15 years marketing, communication and stakeholder engagement experience in Canada’s agriculture and food industry, Tiffany is a proud advocate for the sector.
Chuck Baresich
President and Founder of Haggerty AgRobotics and Haggerty Creek
Caption: The cover of Understanding Forensic DNA analysis booklet. Credit: Comic credit: artist Mark Brown Funding credit: Leverhulme Trust and Arts Council England Courtesy: SISSA MediaLab
Imagine being summoned as a juror in a murder trial. The expert responsible for analyzing DNA traces at the crime scene has just explained that they match the defendant’s profile. “Then the culprit must be them,” you think.
At this point, however, the expert adds, “The sample, however, is partially degraded.” What does this mean? How does this information affect your judgment? The scientist further explains that there is a one-in-a-billion probability that other people could match the identified genetic profile. How significant is this new information? Is this probability high or negligible? What is your verdict now?
“The decisions being taken by members of juries are just so vitally important and often they’re shaped by their understanding of the forensic evidence that’s being presented,” explains Dr. Andy Ridgway, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the University of the West of England, UWE Bristol, and one of the study’s authors of a study appearing in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM).
“They often have little to no science background and frequently lack prior knowledge of the forensic techniques they are expected to assess in making their decision.” This is a widespread issue, and scientific literature on the subject suggests that understanding of science in courtrooms is often quite limited.
The Evidence Chamber, the project within which the research described in JCOM was developed, was created precisely to explore how non-experts understand scientific evidence in judicial proceedings, combining forensic science, digital technology, and public engagement. The Evidence Chamber was developed by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee (Scotland) in collaboration with Fast Familiar, a collective of digital artists specializing in interactive experiences. A team from UWE Bristol, including Izzy Baxter, a student studying for an MSc Science Communication at the time, was involved in analyzing the data collected during the research phase aimed at testing the use of comics as a tool for communicating forensic science.
The study involved about a hundred volunteers who participated as ‘jurors’ in mock trials. The participants participated in an interactive experience that involved different types of evidence; they listened to the expert witness testimony, which focused on DNA analysis and gait analysis (the study of a suspect’s walking pattern for identification). The jury discussion took place in two phases: “First, they received the expert witness testimony. They then discussed it and indicated whether they believed the defendant was guilty or not guilty at that point. After that, they were given access to the comics,” explains Heather Doran, researcher at the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee, who was involved in the study. “This allowed us to see how the comics might influence their previous discussion and whether they provided any useful additional information.”
“We conducted an analysis of the discussions among jurors, one immediately after the expert testimony in court and another after they had read the comics,” explains Ridgway. To assess whether comics provided an advantage in comprehension, during the experimental phases, one group received only the traditional expert testimony, while the other had access to both the expert’s explanation and the comics.
The analysis confirmed the effectiveness of comics: participants who read the comics discussed the evidence in greater detail, showing increased confidence in their reasoning and conclusions. In the group that read the comics, jurors made more explicit references to scientific concepts and demonstrated a better ability to connect forensic science to their final decision. In contrast, in the groups that received only the oral explanation, more misinterpretations of the evidence emerged, with misunderstandings related to the meaning of probability and margins of error, whereas the comics helped clarify these concepts. Additionally, discussions in the groups with comics were more balanced and participatory, with greater interaction among jurors.
This experience demonstrates that comics can be a valuable tool for explaining forensic science in court, supporting jurors. It is important to emphasize that this type of material must be carefully designed. The scientific comics used in The Evidence Chamber were developed by specialists at the University of Dundee. “The University of Dundee has an historical link with comics, we worked with our Professor of Comics Studies and artists to create them” explains Doran. “Dundee, the city where the centre is located, has a history in comics. It’s the home of Beano the comic and Dennis the Menace. And the University of Dundee also offers comic courses, with which we have been collaborating for a long time.”
I’m not sure how SISSA MediaLab is involved (other than having issued the press release) but I do have a little more by SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies; [Italian: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati]), which owns the MediaLab. See the International School for Advanced Studies Wikipedia entry for more about the school.
Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper mentioned in the press release,
Can science comics aid lay audiences’ comprehension of forensic science? by Isabelle Baxter, Andy Ridgway, Heather Doran, Niamh Nic Daeid, Rachel Briscoe, Joe McAlister, Daniel Barnard. JCOM: Journal of Science Communication Volume 24 Issue number 1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22323/2.24010201 Published – 4 Feb 2025
Should you ever need need or already have a joint (knee, hip, etc.) replacement, an implant (brain, pacemeker, etc.) or other biomedical device in your body, this work from Japan is likely to be of special interest.
Caption: Researchers from Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan develop highly biocompatible apatite nanoparticles by manipulating surface properties through pH changes. Credit: Motohiro Tagaya from Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan
Medical implants have transformed healthcare, offering innovative solutions with advanced materials and technologies. However, many biomedical devices face challenges like insufficient cell adhesion, leading to inflammatory responses after their implantation in the body. Apatite coatings, particularly hydroxyapatite (HA)—a naturally occurring form of apatite found in bones, have been shown to promote better integration with surrounding tissues. However, the biocompatibility of artificially synthesized apatite nanoparticles often falls short of expectations, primarily due to the nanoparticles’ limited ability to bind effectively with biological tissues.
To overcome this challenge, researchers at Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan have developed a method for synthesizing surface-modified apatite nanoparticles that results in improved cell adhesion, offering new possibilities for the next generation of biocompatible medical implants. Led by Dr. Motohiro Tagaya, Associate Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Bioengineering at Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan, this research aims to enhance the performance of apatite coatings and advance the field of biocompatible materials for medical devices. The findings of this study were published online in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, on January 13, 2025, and in Volume 17, Issue 4 of the journal on January 29, 2025”. Along with Dr. Tagaya, Mr. Kazuto Sugimoto from Nagaoka University of Technology, Dr. Tania Guadalupe Peñaflor Galindo from Sophia University, and Mr. Ryota Akutsu from Nagaoka University of Technology were also a part of this research team.
Apatites are a class of calcium-phosphorus-based inorganic compounds, with hydroxyapatite—a naturally occurring form found in bones. These compounds are known for their high biocompatibility. Recent studies have foundthat coating artificial joints and implants with apatite nanoparticles is a plausible solution for improving the biocompatibility of these biodevices. However, the artificially synthesized nanoparticles often show reduced binding affinity to biological tissues in vitro. According to Dr. Tagaya and his team, this difference could be linked to the nanoscale surface layer of the apatite nanoparticles.
Dr. Tagaya’s research was driven by a desire to unravel the complexities of biocompatible materials, leading his team to develop an interdisciplinary framework that controls the intricate interactions between apatite and biological systems. “The properties of the nanoscale surface layer of apatite nanoparticles are crucial when considered for medical coatings,” adds Dr. Tagaya. Adding further, he says, “In this study, we successfully controlled the nanoscale surface layers of apatite nanoparticles, paving the way for advanced surface coating technologies for biodevices.”
The team synthesized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by mixing aqueous solutions of calcium and phosphate ions. The pH of the solution was controlled using three different bases, which included tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The precipitated nanoparticles were then evaluated for their surface layer characteristics and were further used for coating via electrophoretic deposition.
The results revealed that pH was a key factor during synthesis, since it affected the crystalline phases, surface properties, and electrophoretic deposition. On analyzing the crystalline phases of the nanoparticles, it was observed that the choice of pH influenced the formation of different calcium phosphate phases like calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) and carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CHA). Higher pH favored the formation of CHA, leading to better crystallinity, and a higher calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) molar ratio.
The surface of the apatite nanoparticles shows three different layers. The inner apatite layer/core is characterized by the presence of the crystalline structure of the apatite. Above the apatite layer is the non-apatitic layer, which is rich in ions like phosphate ions and carbonate ions. This layer reacts with water molecules and forms the hydration layer. Analyzing the surface characteristics of these layers revealed that pH adjustments facilitated the formation of the non-apatitic layer rich in reactive ions, enhancing hydration properties, which was confirmed.
Importantly, the study revealed that while higher pH facilitates the formation of the non-apatitic layer, the presence of Na+ ions reduces the concentration of phosphate ions, leading to decreased reactivity of the layer. The introduction of substantial ions by NaOH also affected the uniformity of electrophoretic deposition, as observed in scanning probe microscope studies. This effect was not observed with KOH, indicating that KOH was more suitable than NaOH for forming the non-apatitic layer and ensuring uniform coating.
Emphasizing the significance of the study, Dr. Tagaya says, “This study focuses on the critical interfacesbetween bioceramics and biological systems and could inspire designs of biocompatible surfaces with preferential cell adhesion.” These findings can be potentially useful for surface coating of a wide range of biodevices that are implanted in the human body, including artificial joints and implants.
Going ahead, the team intends to push the boundaries of nanobiomaterials, paving the way for groundbreaking innovations in medical materials and devices that could revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
A January 30, 2025 news item on phys.org announces research from Sweden and Estonia that could lead to a new way of disinfecting surfaces against the coronavirus and other similar viruses,
A new way to neutralize coronavirus and other membrane-surrounded viruses has been discovered by researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences [SLU] and the University of Tartu [Estonai]. Certain mineral nanoparticles were found to damage the membrane of the virus, making it less able to enter human cells. The mode of action that is demonstrated has not been discussed in previous research. The technology works at room temperature and also in the dark, offering a range of benefits for disinfecting surfaces, air and water.
”Using this new knowledge, it should be easy to create surfaces with antiviral properties by simply spraying them with aqueous solutions of suitable nanoparticles* and letting them dry. It should also be easy to design cost-effective filters to purify contaminated air and water,” says Professor Vadim Kessler from SLU who has led the work.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has led to an intense search for new types of treatments and disinfection methods that can be used in outbreaks of viral diseases of this type. One area that has received much attention is nanotechnology, as tiny particles of certain metals and metal oxides have been shown to have anti-viral properties.
Now, researchers from SLU and the University of Tartu in Estonia have studied the outcome when certain types of mineral nanoparticles come into contact with a coronavirus, and they discovered a mode of action that has not been proposed before.
“We now understand what properties such particles need to have to be effective against the coronavirus, and this is a very important step forward,” says Vadim Kessler.
Coronaviruses belong to a type of virus that has an outer envelope, a lipid membrane. It turned out that nanoparticles of sand minerals such as titanium oxide bind very strongly to phospholipids in this membrane. This damages the membrane and leads to the release of viral genetic material, thereby making the virus less able to infect cells.
A major advantage is that this happens at room temperature and that it does not require any kind of activation. Previously, it was believed that mineral nanoparticles could only destroy viruses by producing so-called reactive oxygen species, which would require illumination with UV light.
The study thus suggests that surfaces coated with titanium nanoparticles can destroy enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses and influenza viruses without needing to be activated by UV light, and thus can work in dark spaces. Other small metal oxides that bind strongly to phospholipids, such as iron and aluminum oxides, could work in the same way. Another possible application could be to purify contaminated water in emergencies by adding a nanopreparation and allowing the resulting gel to settle.
“The particles we produce are not dangerous to the human body,” adds Angela Ivask, who is Professor of Genetics at the University of Tartu. “We have tested them on several cell lines to assure this.”
*Nanoparticles are extremely small and can sometimes have properties that are completely different compared to larger particles of the same material.
This May 9, 2025 Perimeter Institute (PI) for Theoretical Physics announcement (received via email) involves an event being held on May 21, 2025 with free tickets for in person attendance available as of 9 am ET (6 am PT) on Monday morning, May 12, 2025,
Quantum Chemistry in the Universe’s Coldest Test Tube
Dr. Alan Jamison
Wednesday, May 21 [2025] at 7:00 pm ET
Join us for a lecture with Dr. Alan Jamison, an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, jointly appointed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC).
How do chemical reactions change when they’re run at temperatures a billion times colder than a Canadian winter? What can we learn when we have perfect quantum control of the reactants? Before answering these questions, we’ll discuss the fascinating techniques of laser cooling that allow us to cool atoms and molecules to within a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero. We’ll then look at how molecules prepared at such temperatures allow us to control chemical reactions at the quantum level, beginning to open a new understanding of chemistry and new possibilities for technologies of the future.
Don’t miss out! Free tickets to attend this event in person will become available on Monday, May 12 [2025], at 9 am ET.
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics 31 Caroline Street North Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5
Agenda
6:00 p.m.
Doors Open
Perimeter’s main floor Atrium will be open for ticket holders, with researchers available to answer science questions until the talk begins.
6:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Doors Close
Theater doors close to ensure all guests have enough time to enter and be seated by our ushers.
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Public Talk
The talk will begin at 7:00 PM, offering a live stream for virtual attendees. This will include a full presentation in the Theatre as well as a Q&A session.
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Atrium (Optional)
After the talk, head to the Atrium to mingle with other attendees and meet the speaker.
…
About the Speaker
Dr. Alan Jamison is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, jointly appointed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). He leads the Jamison Lab, which investigates ultracold atoms and molecules to explore quantum many-body physics, quantum chemistry, and quantum information science. Dr. Jamison earned his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Central Florida in 2007, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Washington in 2008 and 2014, respectively.
After completing his Ph.D., he joined the group of Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Ketterle at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a postdoctoral researcher. At the University of Waterloo, Dr. Jamison’s research centers on using ultracold atoms and molecules to investigate complex quantum systems. His lab aims to achieve precise control over chemical reactions at ultracold temperatures, providing insights into quantum chemistry and enabling advancements in quantum computing and simulation.
