Following Faraday's hint: The search for quantum gravity - with Jim Gates

Video Description

World-renowned physicist Jim Gates explores his life in science, and shows how visualisation can propel the search for quantum gravity. This lecture was recorded at the Ri on 8 February 2025. Watch the Q&A here (exclusively for Science Supporters): https://youtu.be/zUtY1xA7UZw Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeF244yNGuFefuFKqxIAXw/join The power of visualisation is important to the advancement of theoretical physics. For example, it is possible Michael Faraday's discovery of electromagnetic induction occurred due to his inference that magnetic fields about wires must be as wheels about a spoke. Nowadays, physicists and mathematicians use computers to translate this powerful way of thinking into images that further our understanding. World renowned physicist Jim Gates describes his efforts to follow such a path and create a clearer understanding to a theory of quantum gravity using images named 'adinkras/adynkras.' With thanks to the Blackett Lab Family (https://theblackettlabfamily.com/) and RCA Black (https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/the-rca-experience/rca-blk/) for making this talk possible. --- Sylvester James “Jim” Gates, Jr., works at the boundary of physics and mathematics. He is a theoretical physicist at the University of Maryland. He is a University System Regents Professor, the John S. Toll Professor of Physics, and a College Park Professor. He currently holds the Clark Leadership Chair in Science and serves as a Professor of Physics with the Physics Department as well as a being a Professor of Public Policy in the School of Public Policy, both at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Prof. Gates served on the Presidential line of the American Physical Society (APS) from 2019-2022, and earlier as a General Councilor of the APS (1997–2001) and he was the first recipient of the APS Bouchet Award in 1994. He served on the US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the National Commission on Forensic Science, and on the Maryland State Board of Education in the period of 2009–2016. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science as well as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Math. He is an elected Fellow of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP). He is also a member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Forensic Science Standards Board. Past advisory positions include service on the National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee on Physics, the Department of Energy’s High Energy Physics Advisory Panel, the LIGO Operations and Scientific Research Sub-Panel and NSF Review Committee, the LIGO Director’s Physics Advisory Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the Society for Science & the Public --- The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ri_science Listen to the Ri podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ri-science-podcast Donate to the RI and help us bring you more lectures: https://www.rigb.org/support-us/donate-ri Our editorial policy: https://www.rigb.org/editing-ri-talks-and-moderating-comments Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.