The Australian academy is hosting a free lecture by Nobel Prize winner and Canadian physicist Donna Strickland on the 7^th of December at Australia’s home of science, The Shine Dome.

Event details

Time: 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm.

Format: a 45-minute lecture followed by a 15min Q&A.

Cost: FREE. bookings required.

Book your free ticket here: Lecture Registration - Frew Fellowship Public Lecture - Generating High-Intensity, Ultrashort Optical Pulses (eventsair.com)

Background information

Donna Strickland received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, 33 years after she published in first scientific paper in partnership with her PhD supervisor, Gérard Mourou.

In that paper, they described how they had succeeded in creating ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses without destroying the amplifying material. Their breakthrough, known as chirped pulse amplification, resulted in the most intense laser pulses ever.

Their research has led to tools with applications in medicine, industry, science, the military and security. This includes the development of new machining techniques that are used in laser eye surgery and the micromachining of glass used in mobile phones.

When she won her Nobel Prize, Donna said: “When I was in grad school, working on this project, Cindi Lauper had a big hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. But they wanted to wait until the working day is done. But I wanted to have fun while working. Not everyone thinks physics is fun. But I do.” https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1492235811550601217