Join us for a special lecture by Graham Farmelo, award-winning science writer and historian of physics, as he discusses the life and work of Paul Dirac, one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. Celebrated for his mathematical brilliance and deep physical insights, Dirac became renowned for promoting the idea that the most fundamental physical laws must possess mathematical beauty – a concept that continues to inspire theoretical physicists to this day.
This event is organized as part of the UNIVERSE+ project, which connects interdisciplinary research across mathematics, physics, and cosmology.
Date: July 31, 2025
Location: Max Planck Institute for Physics, Auditorium
Schedule
14:45 – 15:15 Registration (coffee, tea, and water available)
15:15 – 15:30 Welcome & introduction
15:30 – 17:00 Lecture and Q&A
17:00 – 17:30 Open discussions and refreshments
17:30 – 18:30 Closing Remarks
Speaker Bio:
Graham Farmelo is a Fellow at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, and Affiliate Professor at Northeastern University, Boston. He is the author of The Strangest Man, a biography of Paul Dirac which won the 2009 Costa Prize for Biography. His other books include Churchill's Bomb and The Universe Speaks in Numbers. Farmelo is a leading voice in science communication, with extensive experience in public outreach and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Organizers
- Johannes Henn, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Garching
- Diana López-Falcón, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Garching
Organizing committee
- Johannes Henn, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Garching
- Diana López-Falcón, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Garching
- Julia Redl, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Garching
This activity is part of the ERC Synergy Grant UNIVERSE+ www.positive-geometry.com, funded by the European Union (ERC, UNIVERSE PLUS, 101118787). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
