Prepare to think big as cosmologist Neil Turok, Director of Perimeter Institute, discusses how fundamental physics research has played a pivotal role in human understanding and is now a key ingredient within Waterloo Region’s unique innovation ecosystem.

Turok will deliver the keynote speech during the 5th Annual International Reception and Dinner presented by Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc. on December 5.

In his address, titled “The Arc of Innovation: From Theory to Experiment and Commercialization in Waterloo Region and Beyond,” Turok will explore the value the Region places on basic research, and the collaborative spirit that has transformed the entire area into a model for smart, forward-thinking communities worldwide.

The highly visual presentation will provide a behind-the-scenes look into how Perimeter conducts multidisciplinary research, training, and outreach operations – and why this is not only attracting talented minds to Ontario, but also helping position Canada for developments in this age of new knowledge.

Then, in revealing what Perimeter scientists are specifically learning about our universe – on scales ranging from a billionth the size of an atom to 10 trillion times larger than our solar system – and about the quantum behaviour of matter on everyday scales, Turok will share some of the transformative opportunities and technologies that may lie ahead.

“What is coming is likely to be even more significant than any past transformation,” Turok says. “We are analog beings living in a digital world, facing a quantum future.”

This presentation aims to demystify the nature of theoretical physics research, and should be of interest to members of the business, education, and government communities. In particular, Turok will outline Perimeter’s multidisciplinary model for tackling vexing questions, while sharing his own outlook on where developments in basic research may take us.

“Perimeter Institute has helped to make Waterloo Region a hub of cutting-edge scientific thinking unlike anywhere else in the world,” said John G. Jung, CEO of Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc. “By attracting leading minds such as Dr. Turok and Stephen Hawking to this region, Perimeter’s research, training, and outreach activities put us in touch with the deep questions and ideas that can lead to new knowledge and transformations of the future. On December 5, we will be fortunate to see how Perimeter operates internally and internationally, to learn what current research tells us about our world, and to hear from Dr. Turok on his bold vision of the future.”

Some seating is still available for CTT’s 5th Annual International Reception and Dinner. Early-bird registration is $165 before November 8 ($190 after November 8). Register online or contact [email protected] for information about corporate tables or sponsorship.