Conversations at the Perimeter

Katie Mack on the end of it all – and new beginnings

Katie Mack was recently appointed as Perimeter’s inaugural Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication. An adept science communicator, she is best known as @Astrokatie to her 400,000+ Twitter followers. She published her first book in 2020, The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), in which she explains the various ways our universe could come to its end. During this conversation, she tells us about her early interactions with Stephen Hawking, how she became fascinated with the universe’s ultimate fate, and why she is so passionate about sharing her love of science with the world. View the episode transcript here.
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Conversations at the Perimeter is co-hosted by Perimeter Teaching Faculty member Lauren Hayward and journalist-turned-science communicator Colin Hunter. In each episode, they chat with a guest scientist about their research, their motivations, the challenges they encounter, and the drive that keeps them searching for answers.
The podcast is produced by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, a not-for-profit, charitable organization supported by a unique public-private model, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada. Perimeter’s educational outreach initiatives, including Conversations at the Perimeter, are made possible in part by the support of donors like you. Be part of the equation: perimeterinstitute.ca/donate

Timothy Hsieh on the magic of quantum

Timothy Hsieh is a Perimeter faculty member and a co-leader of the Institute’s Clay Riddell Centre for Quantum Matter. His research explores the intersection of quantum information and condensed matter physics. The Los Angeles native is also a classically trained violinist and a new dad. During this conversation, he shares how “quantum magic” can help us build powerful quantum computers, his first experiences at Perimeter as a teenager, and how fatherhood has helped fuel his innate curiosity about nature. View episode transcript here.
We are looking for feedback about our audience’s preferences as we chart the path forward. Please take a few minutes and fill out our podcast listener survey.
Conversations at the Perimeter is co-hosted by Perimeter Teaching Faculty member Lauren Hayward and journalist-turned-science communicator Colin Hunter. In each episode, they chat with a guest scientist about their research, their motivations, the challenges they encounter, and the drive that keeps them searching for answers.
The podcast is produced by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, a not-for-profit, charitable organization supported by a unique public-private model, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada. Perimeter’s educational outreach initiatives, including Conversations at the Perimeter, are made possible in part by the support of donors like you. Be part of the equation: perimeterinstitute.ca/donate

Introducing: Conversations at the Perimeter

Get to know some of the brilliant minds trying to solve nature’s deepest mysteries. Conversations at the Perimeter will introduce you to researchers working at the forefront of science, tackling challenges from dark matter and black holes to quantum computing and particle physics.
 
The series is co-hosted by Perimeter Teaching Faculty member Lauren Hayward and journalist-turned-science communicator Colin Hunter. In each episode, they chat with a guest scientist about their research, their motivations, the challenges they encounter, and the drive that keeps them searching for answers.
 
The first season of Conversations at the Perimeter will feature Carlo Rovelli, Katie Mack, Raymond Laflamme, and other fascinating explorers working at the edge of knowledge. The first episode will be released on Thursday, April 14. Guest speakers in this episode, in order of appearance: Katie Mack, Lucien Hardy, Meenu Kumari, Hilding Neilson, Carlo Rovelli, Timothy Hsieh, Ghazal Geshnizjani, Niayesh Afshordi.
 
Conversations at the Perimeter is produced by Perimeter Institute, the world’s largest independent research hub devoted to theoretical physics research, training, and educational outreach. Perimeter is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, and Conversations at the Perimeter is made possible in part by the support of donors like you. Be part of the equation: perimeterinstitute.ca/donate. 
 
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