Sixty years ago, the great American physicist Richard Feynman delivered a famous lecture in which he urged experimentalists to push for the creation of new materials with features designed at the atomic limit. He called this the "final question": whether ultimately "we can arrange the atoms the way we want: the very atoms all the way down!"
Professor Simmons will describe how scientists are now finally delivering on Feynman’s dream. She will explain how to manufacture materials and devices whose properties are determined by the placement of individual atoms, and will highlight the creative explosion in new devices that has followed and the many new insights into the quantum world that this revolution has made possible.
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Attending the event
- This lecture will take place at The Royal Society on 1 March at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event and will be streamed live online.
- The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential due to seating availability.
- Live subtitles will be available.
- If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend.
The award
The Bakerian Medal and Lecture is the premier lecture in physical sciences. The lectureship was established through a bequest by Henry Baker FRS (PDF) of £100 for 'an oration or discourse on such part of natural history or experimental philosophy, at such time and in such manner as the President and Council of the Society for the time being shall please to order and appoint'. The lecture series began in 1775. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £10,000.
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