DUALITY – public talk by A/Prof. Chris Ferrie
Physicist, science communicator and children’s book author A/Prof. Chris Ferrie talks about the intersection of art and science, setting the scene for the opening of DUALITY – an artistic exploration of quantum science.
Date: Tuesday 14 May 2024
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm
Location: Messel Lecture Theatre (4002), Sydney Nanoscience Hub (A31), Physics Road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2050
Cost: free, optional donation to DeadlyScience
This event is Auslan-interpreted.
Title: The Beholder’s Quantum Share
The art theory concept of the “beholder’s share” suggests that the viewer of an artwork contributes their unique personal memories, emotions and cultural context to complete the piece. The subjective experience of art does not exist without the perception of a beholder. Quantum physics takes this one step further and demonstrates that the physical manifestation of art does not exist without an observer. There is no observer-independent objective reality. You are not the architects of reality, but your observational interactions bring about its final completion—your beholder’s “quantum” share.
Chris Ferrie is a theoretical physicist, science communicator, author, father of four and happy husband. His day job is academic research, where he follows his curiosity through the word of quantum physics. His passion for communicating science has led from the most esoteric topics of mathematical physics to more recently writing children's books.
During the day you will find Chris as an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney and Centre for Quantum Software and Information, and an Associate Investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS). His research interests include quantum estimation and control, and, in particular, the use of machine learning to solve statistical problems in quantum information science. He obtained his PhD in applied mathematics from the Institute for Quantum Computing and University of Waterloo (Canada) in 2012.
Major funding support
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.