What makes a scientist tick? How did they get started? What advice do they offer today’s students? Find out by viewing these short video interviews with leading researchers from around the world. Each person explains their interest in science, from young school-age days to the present, and shares insights about what it's like to be a scientist. In addition to hearing personal comments, you can link to some related PI Public Lectures and also read about associated research areas at PI.
Achievable experimental systems in quantum and atomic optics, the effects of measurement and control on quantum systems, quantum technologies for processing information and quantum computation.
The nature of time, probability and quantum mechanics, philosophy of physics and metaphysics, especially issues involving the role of mathematical tools like symmetry in physics, and applying this formal apparatus to the philosophy of mind.
Cosmology, in particular applying the physics of elementary particles to the extremely hot and violent conditions of the early universe, and exploring deep questions about the big bang, the fate of our universe, and the hope for intelligent life (here or elsewhere)
Fundamental interactions between elementary particles, using deep ideas involving mathematical symmetry for restoring unity to the fundamental laws of nature (strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetism and gravity).
Condensed matter systems at ultra low-temperature that show purely quantum phenomena – even on big scales (superfluidity, superconductivity, Bose-Einstein condensates); measurements in the quantum world; probing the foundations of quantum theory.
Many aspects of geometry, black holes, novel views on the evolution of the universe (was there something before the Big Bang?), the interplay and unification of general relativity and quantum physics, and science of consciousness.
Big Bang cosmology, inflationary growth of the universe, seeds for the formation of galaxies and large-scale structure, dark energy and dark matter, and also “quasicrystals” - a new phase of solid matter with impossible symmetries.
String theory, the high energy frontier of elementary particle physics, grand unifications into a single framework, mathematical beauty and supersymmetries, and uncovering the quantum structures of space and time.