The Department of Physics at Florida State University will organize its Circus of Physics event on Saturday, showcasing to the public the significance of physics in daily life along with the vast variety of research undertaken by FSU scientists.
Scheduled to take place biannually, the event is complimentary and accessible to everyone. The programming features an open-house structure that includes presentations in the Pat Thomas Planetarium, interactive experiments, live research demonstrations by FSU scholars, guided tours of laboratories, and much more.
The Circus of Physics is set for:
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
11 A.M. – 4 P.M.
KEEN BUILDING, 77 CHIEFTAIN WAY
RICHARDS BUILDING, 1055 ATOMIC WAY
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
“My favorite aspect of the Circus is witnessing children posing challenging questions while they interact with the numerous scientific demonstrations and displays we present,” expressed Fernando Febres Cordero, a physics professor and chief event organizer. “It illustrates the intense curiosity of young minds, and we — all organizers, volunteers, and participants — aspire for the event to motivate them to become the scientists of tomorrow!”
Physics operates as a fundamentally interdisciplinary and collaborative domain, and to embody this, the event’s sessions will include a live display of a volcanic eruption by Emily Stewart, an assistant professor in FSU’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science. One among the event’s five presentations, titled “Superconductivity: Resistance is Futile,” will be co-delivered by assistant professors of physics He Zhao and Zhengguang Lu.
“Our presentation will feature one of the most thrilling breakthroughs in condensed matter physics: superconductors, or materials that repel magnetic fields and exhibit no electrical resistance when cooled to specific temperatures,” Lu stated. “This showcase presents a unique occasion for attendees, as quantum mechanics typically operate at a scale too minute for the unaided eye to perceive. Moreover, we will explore how superconductors can and already have transformed daily life, with practical applications spanning from MRI machines to superconducting magnetic levitation trains.”
During the gathering, the John D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory and Condensed Matter Laboratories will offer guided tours. Visitors will have the chance to explore the Fox lab and replicate the nuclear reactions that take place at the core of stars. Additionally, the Condensed Matter Laboratories will be accessible for attendees to delve into nanotechnology, superconductivity, and biophysics, allowing participants to even interact with atoms.
“Universities serve as hubs for the creation and sharing of knowledge,” Febres Cordero remarked. “They are spaces where every inquiry can be made and where we construct avenues to uncover answers. Through this open house event, we aim to emphasize the significance of the work conducted at FSU and its effects on our local community, state, and beyond.”
For further details and a comprehensive schedule of events, please visit physics.fsu.edu/events-seminars/open-house. To discover more about research within the Department of Physics, go to physics.fsu.edu.
The article FSU Department of Physics to showcase research to Tallahassee community at Circus of Physics first appeared on Florida State University News.