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SUMMARY:Appearance and Physical Reality - Professor Carlo Rovelli\, Intern
 ational Centre for Theoretical Physics
DTSTART:20190215T173000Z
DTEND:20190215T183000Z
UID:TALK102880@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Janet Gibson
DESCRIPTION:Can we "see" photons\, black holes\, curved spacetime\, quantu
 m jumps\, the expansion of the universe\, or quanta of space?  Physics cha
 llenges appearances\, showing convincingly that our everyday vision of rea
 lity is limited\, approximate and badly incomplete. Established theories s
 uch as quantum theory and general relativity and investigations like loop 
 quantum gravity have a reputation of obscurity. Many suggest that science 
 is forcing us into a counterintuitive and purely mathematical understandin
 g of reality.  I disagree.  I think that there is a visionary core at the 
 root of the best science. Where "visionary" truly means formed by visual i
 mages.  Our mind\, even when dealing with abstract and difficult notions\,
  relies on images\, metaphors and\, ultimately\, vision.  Contrary to what
  is sometimes claimed\, science is not just about making predictions: it i
 s about understanding\, and\, for this\, developing new eyes to see.   I s
 hall illustrate this point with some concrete cases\, including the birth 
 of quantum theory in Einstein's intuition\, curved spacetimes\, and quanta
  of space. \n\n\nCarlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist\, known for the 
 development Loop Quantum Gravity\, his work on the nature of physical time
  and the  Relational Interpretation of quantum mechanics. He was born in I
 taly in 1956\, has studied in Bologna and Padova and has worked in several
  Universities in Italy and the United States\; he is currently directing t
 he Quantum Gravity group of the Centre de Physique Théorique of the Unive
 rsity of Aix-Marseille. He has honorary degrees from Beijing Normal Univer
 sity\, and the Universidad de San Martin of Buenos Aires\, Argentina.  He 
 is a member of the International Academy for the Philosophy of Science\, o
 f the Institut Universitaire de France and of the Accademia Galileana. He 
 has written successful popular science books: his "Seven Brief Lessons on 
 Physics" is translated in 41 languages and has sold over a million copies.
  His most recent book\, The Order of Time\, is on the nature of time. 
LOCATION:LMH\, Lady Mitchell Hall
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