Beauty At Work

In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.This is the third episode in the series. In this episode, I present results from the world’s first large-scale survey of beauty in science. You can see the slides from the presentation on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoN Following this presentation we’ll have a discussion among panelists and Q&A from the audience.Support the show

In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.You can see the slides from the panelists’ presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoNThis is the second episode in the series; in our last episode we heard from Dr. Ben MacArthur and Dr. James McAllister. In this clip we’re going to hear from three panelists:Dr. Milena Ivanova is Bye-Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. She is the co-editor of The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination and Understanding (Routledge, 2020), author of Duhem and Holism (Cambridge University Press, 2021), The Aesthetic Nature of Scientific Experiments (Routledge).Dr. Robert Gilbert is Professor of Biophysics in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Director of the University of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Graduate School. He is the author of Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty (Routledge, 2018).Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder is the author of Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray (Basic Books, 2018) and Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions (Viking and Atlantic Books, 2022) and creative director of the YouTube channel “Science without the gobbledygook.”Support the show

In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.We’re going to share this conversation with you over the next few episodes. You can see the slides from the panelists’ presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoNIn this first clip, we’ll hear from Dr. Ben MacArthur, who is Director of AI for Science and Government and Deputy Programme Director for Health and Medical Sciences at the Alan Turing Institute. He is also Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southampton.Following that we’ll hear from Dr. James McAllister, who is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Leiden University. He is the author of Beauty and Revolution in Science (Cornell University Press, 1996). We’ll hear from our other panelists in our next episode.Support the show

Is beauty a reliable guide to truth in science? No, says physicist, author, and science communicator Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder. In this clip, she discusses how the concept of “naturalness” is related to beauty and why it’s misleadingFor the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12833522  For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcastSupport the show

Iconographer David Clayton, who was trained in materials science at Oxford, discusses why it seems that there is a gulf between art and science, and shares ideas for how to bring the two closer together.For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12739891   For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcastSupport the show

What does math teach us about beauty? In this clip, mathematician Dr. Carlo Lancellotti discusses how the search for an elegant, simple equation is similar to the quest to build a beautiful cathedral. He also discusses the link between math and spirituality.For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12648186 For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcastSupport the show

Where do scientists find beauty in their work and why does it matter to them? Immunologist Dr. Mark Painter argues that what’s central here is not simply the visual or sensory beauty he encounters in the phenomena he studies, but the beauty of understanding that science affords.For the full interview see: ttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12547248 For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcastSupport the show

Yale psychologist Dr. Frank Keil discusses the importance of fostering wonder in education, the impact of modern technology on children's understanding, and the challenges scientists face in maintaining curiosity in academic environments.

Dr. Marcia Otto, a public health expert, discusses her transition from theoretical physics to epidemiology, finding beauty in her work. Topics include applying physics to solve real-world problems, quantifying lead exposure in children, and inspiring students to pursue science and public health research.

Award-winning physicist and author Dr. Marcelo Gleiser discusses why pursuing a 'theory of everything' in science can be misleading. He explores the complexities of asymmetries in nature, the limits of human perception in understanding the universe, and the significance of personal experiences in defining reality. Delving into the caution of a definitive Theory of Everything, he emphasizes the evolving nature of science and the balance between awe and the limitations of equating science with absolute truth.