Conversations About Physics, Volume 2

This compendium includes the following 5 complete books featuring renowned physicists Freeman Dyson, Jenny Nelson, Claudia de Rham, Lee Smolin and Jill Tarter providing fully accessible insights into cutting-edge academic research while revealing the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. The books are explicitly designed to provide a unique window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be experienced through standard lectures and textbooks. A detailed preface highlights the connections between the different books and all five books are broken into chapters with a detailed introduction and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:

I. Pushing the Boundaries - A conversation with former mathematical physicist and writer Freeman Dyson (1923-2020), who was one of the most celebrated polymaths of our age. Dyson had his academic home for more than 60 years at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He has reshaped thinking in fields from math to astrophysics to medicine, while pondering nuclear-propelled spaceships designed to transport human colonists to distant planets. Freeman looks back on his simultaneously transformative careers in theoretical physics, mathematics, biology, rocket ship design, nuclear disarmament and writing.

II. Harnessing the Sun - A Conversation with Jenny Nelson, Professor of Physics and Head of the Climate Change mitigation team at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. After inspiring insights about Jenny Nelson's academic journey, the conversation examines different solar energy processes, solar energy conversion technology, novel varieties of material for use in solar cells, and the materials used to build and improve photovoltaic, and other renewable, technologies, which convert energy from the sun into electricity.

III. The Pull of the Stars - A Conversation with Claudia de Rham, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London. After exploring Claudia de Rham's academic journey, this in-depth conversation explores her research in cosmology, the public perception and communication of science to the general public, gender issues and stereotypes in physics, and recommendations for physics teachers to inspire the next generation.

IV. Examining Time - A Conversation with Lee Smolin, faculty member of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. This detailed discussion offers an investigation of time, both what it is and how the true nature of it impacts our world and future and provides behind-the scenes insights into the development of Lee Smolin's groundbreaking theory on the nature of time.

V. SETI: Astronomy - A Conversation with Jill Tarter, Chair Emeritus for SETI Research at SETI Institute and Former Director of the Center for SETI Research. This wide-ranging conversation explores the history of the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, what the present state is of our quest for signals from other planets, what those signals might look like and how we can interpret them, how SETI research has a surprisingly positive effect on other technologies, how citizens can get involved with astronomy and much more.

Howard Burton is the host and editor of all Ideas Roadshow conversations and was the Founding Director of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He holds a PhD in theoretical physics and an MA in philosophy. Ideas Roadshow offers a series of 20 Collections, including Conversations About Astrophysics & Cosmology.