Have you ever wondered how physics can help fight real-world problems, such as tackling climate change, predicting natural disasters and even creating safer and resilient infrastructure?
Welcome to a new podcast series hosted by University of Birmingham PhD researcher Joe Baker, where he sits down with world-leading physics, optics and quantum experts about how they ended up on their career paths, and also about the impact of their research, and what this means for the world we live in.
About Joe Baker: Joe studies optics, specifically how to use quantum physics to manipulate light in order to produce imaging for biomedical research. Joe also works in a levelling up scheme, engaging young people from underrepresented groups with the aim of encouraging STEM higher education through focussed tuition and individual mentoring. For Planet Possibility, Joe is an optics champion for the University of Birmingham, and works to raise the profile of optics in the public sphere, highlighting how this research can help to tackle real-world issues.
Episode 1: Dan Oron on the potential of nanophotonics
Joe sits down with Professor Dan Oron to discuss the potential of nanophotonics, the study of behaviour of light on the nanometre scale (the distance hair grows in 1 second) and developing next-generation technologies to study the relationship between structure and optical function in biological system. Professor Oron is a world-class specialist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and excited to share his work and journey with apprising physicists, like PhD researcher Joe Baker.
Episode 2: Ruchi Gupta on revolutionary sensors for better healthcare treatment
Joe sits down with Dr Ruchi Gupta to discuss developing revolutionary wearable, implantable and point-of-care sensors and microanalytical systems which can be integrated into the daily life of individuals whilst monitoring health. Dr Ruchi Gupta is an associate professor at University of Birmingham having studied across three continents in her career.
Episode 3: Tackling stereotypes and the physics skills shortage with Rachel Youngman
Joe sits down with Rachel Youngman to discuss how Institute of Physics aims to tackle stereotypes and address the physics skills shortage, particularly in education. Rachel is Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, having worked in international development and social justice.
Episode 4: Merging academia and industry with Kai Bongs
Joe sits down with Professor Kai Bongs to discuss the merging of academia and industrial knowledge to build meaningful quantum technologies for the future – to fight climate change, predict natural disasters and to see what lies beneath the ground. Professor Bongs is Director at the Institute for Quantum Technologies at the German Aerospace Centre. Before this Professor Bongs headed the UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Timing.
Episode 5: Abhilash Jha and the ultimate timekeeper
Joe sits down with Abhilash Jha to discuss building the ultimate timekeeper in a transportable atomic clock and working in the University of Birmingham’s clock laboratory – one of the coldest places in the known universe! Abhilash Jha is early-stage researcher at the UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Technology.
