M-Theory, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Our STFC research programme investigates the fundamental physics that describes matter, interactions and spacetime, focusing on the interrelated essential ideas of M-theory, quantum field theory and cosmology.

M-theory, which subsumes string theory and supergravity theory, is our central approach to unifying Einstein's theory of General Relativity with the Standard Model of particle physics. One of the most remarkable features of M-theory is that it incorporates dual descriptions of non-perturbative Yang-Mills theories in terms of strings and branes, leading to profound connections between black holes and quantum field theory and also to new insights into strong coupling phenomena such as quark confinement. These connections will continue to be explored in a number of different ways, including using supersymmetry, novel geometric constructions, exactly integrable quantum field theory models and theories with massless higher-spin excitations. An ultimate goal is to determine the fundamental degrees of freedom of M-theory which would have profound implications for particle physics phenomenology. Using both analytical and numerical techniques we will construct and study black-hole solutions with novel properties that have important potential applications to both the quark-gluon plasma and poorly understood systems in condensed matter such as high-temperature superconductors, exotic metals and insulators.

Cosmology continues to be a highly vibrant area of study driven by a wealth of new data, in particular the recent ground-breaking discovery of gravitational waves. Key clues to the structure and the origin of the universe are to be found in the details of the cosmic microwave background. This will provide one focus of our activities both through analysing data and by studying the cosmological implications of the Higgs field and extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics in inflationary scenarios. A central question we will address is what information can be extracted from new gravity waves measures, in particular how this constrains models of gravity and dark energy. We will look to characterise modified theories of gravity, for instance where the graviton has a mass, and study their cosmological features, and more generally study how to extract imprints of quantum gravity, such as fundamental discreteness of spacetime, on cosmological data. We also continue to develop novel, global statistical tools that draw on many different experiments in order to extract the strongest possible constraints on models.

Planned Impact

The research proposal is aimed at understanding matter, space and time and the origin of the universe at the most fundamental level. Although past experience shows that fundamental research can often translate in technical advances and hence economic impact, the timescale and path is almost impossible to predict. However, we can be sure that the current proposal will have an immediate societal impact through public engagement. This is possible because the fundamental, cutting-edge nature of the research inspires and attracts people, because we have outstanding track-records in public engagement, and because the planned pathways to impact are designed to exploit these opportunities. The direct beneficiaries are, specifically, individual members of the public who enjoy and are stimulated by acquiring new knowledge about science and, more broadly, society as a whole, including policy makers, through building the widest possible base of support for science. We aim to motivate young people, including underrepresented groups such as women, to study science, to ensure we have brilliant young scientists entering the field in the UK. Explaining our research and its significance also deepens our understanding of our work and allows us to reflect on its direction. In the struggle to communicate to the public the concepts that lie at the heart of theoretical research, in seeking new ways to frame our results and situate them in the fabric of human intellectual history, we ourselves can arrive at new insights.

A second concrete impact, and concomitant group of beneficiaries, is the training of highly skilled individuals: the PDRAs. The young researchers who will be trained typically begin their careers as excellent undergraduate performers who are motivated to answer the most fundamental `Big Questions' that our research addresses. The training that they receive as they participate in the research means that they emerge with the highest degree of technical expertise, experience of collaboration in a competitive environment, as well as the ability to direct their own research, and in addition significant skills in in public engagement. These are qualities that are vital to their future careers, be they in theoretical physics or modern business and industry.

Publications

10 25 50
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Cassani D (2021) $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 consistent truncations from wrapped M5-branes in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Beccaria M (2024) (2,0) theory on S5 × S1 and quantum M2 branes in Nuclear Physics B

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Tseytlin A (2023) ? ????????? ?????? ? ?????????? ???????????? ? ??????? ?????????? in ????????????? ? ?????????????? ??????

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Chen C (2022) A cautionary case of casual causality in Journal of High Energy Physics

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Alexander S (2021) A generalized Hartle-Hawking wave function in Classical and Quantum Gravity

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Arav I (2021) A new family of AdS4 S-folds in type IIB string theory in Journal of High Energy Physics

 
Description APEX award: The Emergence of the Continuum
Amount £79,466 (GBP)
Funding ID APX\R1\180098 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 03/2021
 
Description ERC-consoildator grant
Amount € 1,975,829 (EUR)
Funding ID 724659 
Organisation European Research Council (ERC) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 04/2017 
End 04/2022
 
Description Simons Foundation 'Origins of the Universe' program, Cosmology Beyond Einstein's Theory group
Amount $368,000 (USD)
Organisation Simons Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United States
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2021
 
Description IPPP Associateship 
Organisation Durham University
Department Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution N/A
Collaborator Contribution N/A
Impact N/A
Start Year 2019
 
Description MoEDAL 
Organisation European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Country Switzerland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution One of the 20 participating institutions. Theoretical work, data analysis, chairman of Speakers Committee.
Collaborator Contribution Carrying out the experiment.
Impact "The Physics Programme Of The MoEDAL Experiment At The LHC ", Int.J.Mod.Phys. A29 (2014) 1430050.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Simons Observatory 
Organisation Simons Foundation
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Forecasting and analysis for S4 generation CMB experiment
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration on design and building of next generation CMB telescope
Impact Work towards future publications
Start Year 2017
 
Description "Ask a String Theorist" event June 27 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact online event Q&A about sring theory. Part of the major annual String Theory conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description "Autores" interviewee 1 hour, TVi/SPA, with Carlos Mendes 13/10 https://tviplayer.iol.pt/programa/autores/556c98760cf234bd4ef57632/video/618e3eee0cf22fee94510019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact "Autores" interviewee 1 hour, TVi/SPA, with Carlos Mendes 13/10
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://tviplayer.iol.pt/programa/autores/556c98760cf234bd4ef57632/video/618e3eee0cf22fee94510019
 
Description 'Quantum gravity, branes and M-theory'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Honoured for his 70th birthday with a special edition of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A,
titled 'Quantum gravity, branes and M-theory'. Organized by L. Bosten, A. Marani, C.Pope and K.Stelle.
The edition reflects topics Professor Duff has been influential in, which seek to unite quantum physics with gravity.
It also includes tributes from, among others, Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg and Fields Medalist Edward Witten.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://royalsocietypublishing.org/topic/special-collections/duff-quantum-gravity
 
Description 15/10 talk at the Oeiras sci O que havia antes de haver tempo, Keynote speaker https://www.fica.pt/events/fisica-recrcivf6gturpi8i-1 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 15/10 talk at the Oeiras sci O que havia antes de haver tempo, Keynote speaker
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.fica.pt/events/fisica-recrcivf6gturpi8i-1
 
Description 50 years of the Weyl Anomaly 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact plenary talk at Workshop on Quantum Effective Theories and Black Hole Tests ICTP Trieste
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL http://grams-815673.wixsite.com
 
Description Abdus Salam Day visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participated in an open house day focusing on the legacy of Abdus Salam. Main attendees were ~500 school students. Helped students find the events and also answered their questions about physics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Abdus Salam Documentary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Assisted with the creation of a Documentary on the occasion of the naming of the Imperial College Library The Abdus Salam Library
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL http://youtube.com/watch?v=hye8dmpql9g
 
Description Abdus Salam Documentary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Documentary on the occasion of the naming of the Imperial College Library The Abdus Salam Library
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL http://youtube.com/watch?v=hye8dmpql9g
 
Description Abdus Salam Exhibition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Involved organizing an archival exhibit about Abdus Salam and a documentary about Salam at Imperial.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://salamexhibition.uk
 
Description Abdus Salam and quantum gravity 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Talk at the unveiling ceremony on the occasion of naming the Imperial College library the Abdus Salam library
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Abdus Salam and the Fundamental Forces of Nature 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Delivared a poster presentation on January 29, 2024 aimed at demystifying complex scientific concepts for high school students and the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/169629/abdus-salam-and-the-fundamental-forces-of-nature/
 
Description Abdus Salam schools talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact As part of the day of events to celebrate the renaming of the central library the Abdus Salam Library, Dr. Tasneem Zehra Husain, Pakistan's first female string theorist and author of Only the Longest Threads spoke to more than 50 London high school children about Abdus Salam, his life and work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=4qaNB-yCHxk
 
Description Advisor (curator) to the science festival of oeiras Oct 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Advisor (curator) to the science festival of oeiras Oct 2020
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Article in Quanta Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Outreach
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.quantamagazine.org/claudia-de-rham-slayed-gravitys-ghosts-20200818/
 
Description Article in Tähdet ja avaruus magazine (in Finnish) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed for an article on vacuum decay
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.avaruus.fi/uutiset/kosmologia-ja-teoreettinen-fysiikka/tyhjio-voi-muuttaa-tilaansa-ja-tu...
 
Description Beyond the Big Bang: Sofia Science Festival which will take place 15-16 May 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Beyond the Big Bang: Sofia Science Festival which will take place 15-16 May 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.britishcouncil.bg/en/sofia-science-festival/programme/events/2021/beyond-big-bang
 
Description CMTV interview "Falar Global" 15/10 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact CMTV interview "Falar Global" 15/10
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Canadian-Cuban-American-Mexican Graduate Student Physics Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The conference was virtual. I gave a research talk on there on Open Effective Field theories, applied to inflationary cosmology.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://sac.cap.ca/index.php/events/ccam-2022-conference/
 
Description Chandrasekhar Colloquium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Several hundered people in Indaia tuned in to my on line talk on black holes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Comment in Guardian article on ''Quantum hair' could resolve Hawking's black hole paradox' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Comment in Guardian article about a paper (by Calmet and Hsu) about quantum hair and Hawking's paradox.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/mar/17/quantum-hair-could-resolve-stephen-hawking-black-hol...
 
Description Constellations 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact ``Many worlds''article in theatre programme for ``Constellations'' Vaudeville theatre 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/a-play-in-parallel-universes
 
Description Contibution to Elke Krystufek book curated by Stayinart 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Elke Krystufek: Contibution to Elke Krystufek book curated by Stayinart
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Contributed to BBC Radio 4 programme on Modernism, talking about Einstein and Relativity, 04 Feb 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Contributed to BBC Radio 4 programme on Modernism, talking about Einstein and Relativity, 04 Feb 2022
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0013zsb
 
Description Contribution to Quanta Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Outreach on gravity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-gravity-is-not-like-the-other-forces-20200615/
 
Description Contributions to LiveScience for article on Life's Little Mysteries "Will anything ever be able to travel faster than the speed of light?" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Contributions to LiveScience for article on Life's Little Mysteries "Will anything ever be able to travel faster than the speed of light?"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Cover Story for New Scientist 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Outreach on gravity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/mg24732902-500-what-does-gravity-weigh-the-surprise-an...
 
Description Curator of science festival FIC.A 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact https://www.fica.pt/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.fica.pt
 
Description Discovery Channel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed for How the Universe Works season 10, Discovery Channel
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Discussion on Alice in Wonderland with V&A curator as part of Great Exhibition Road Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact On line discussion as part of Great Exhibition Road festival.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIAcfShcbYo&t=3360s
 
Description Edinburgh (Higgs Centre) Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Over 100 researchers attended the workshop "Analogue models of gravity and fluctuation-induced phenomena". This took place at the Higgs Centre at the University of Edinburgh. I gave a talk about my research on Open Effective field theories, applied to inflationary cosmology.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://higgs.ph.ed.ac.uk/workshops/analogue-models-of-gravity-and-fluctuation-induced-phenomena/
 
Description Feature article at Science&Vie 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Feature article in Science & Vie, Europe's number one scientific news magazine, reached a large audience of teenagers and general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.science-et-vie.com/sciences-fondamentales/gravitation-et-si-elle-avait-une-masse-59391
 
Description Friends of Imperial College talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public talk "Higgs cosmology"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBZ3ltkddGc
 
Description Head of Physics Outreach 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact As head of Physics Outreach at Imperial College London, and then deputy-head of physics department for people, outreach & edi (since May 2023), I have led over 10 open days since 2023, welcoming each time 500-1000 school students within our physics department. Organization of physics and hands-on activities, posters, tours of physics department, panel discussions and Q&A.
For each open day, I give 3 public talks in a full auditorium of capacity 250.
+ organization of other open days for physics & science school teachers, local regional and international school visits and other public events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Infinite Monkey Cage 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panel member on BBC Radio 4 "Infinite Monkey Cage" broadcast show and podcast on "Quantum Physics". The show has a live audience of 300, a broadcast audience of tens of thousands and 3 million downloads of the podcast per year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gr7p58
 
Description Interview on Naked Scientist show BBC radio 5 and podcast - 9th June 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview on Naked Scientist podcast: "Could aliens travel through wormholes?"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/could-aliens-travel-through-wormholes
 
Description Interview with "FisicaMente", Physics Students site in Portugal 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFAeeGg2w99_LdEBezyKbg
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Interview with NewsTalk, Irish Radio science program 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview with NewsTalk, Irish Radio science program
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Interview with Vox Media, explaining the unexplainable. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview with Vox Media, explaining the unexplainable.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Interviewed for Middle School research project on the 'Multiverse' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Interviewed for Middle School research project on the 'Multiverse', Tenafly Middle School in New Jersey.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited Speaker for U3A, (University of Third Age). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact public talk for 100 people
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Lecture for New Scientists, Big Thinkers Series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Lecture for New Scientists, Big Thinkers Series
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.newscientist.com/science-events/gravity-de-rham/
 
Description Letter to Sydney Coleman 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Published in ``Theoretical Physics in Your Face'', Selected Correspondence of Sydney Coleman, World Scientifiic 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Linacre Institute 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk on particle physics and cosmology research at Linacre Institute Summer School for state school students
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018,2019,2021,2023
URL http://www.linacreinstitute.org/about/team/
 
Description Local high school student day visit to the university 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Hosted a local high school student for the day, showed her some of the labs, had her attend a seminar and meet the speaker afterwards. Discussed ideas for involvement in physics, as well as practical advice about university education, getting involved in research, etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description New Scientist Public Lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dissemination, awareness for scientific methods and thinking
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.newscientist.com/science-events/gravity-de-rham/
 
Description New Scientist Talks 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact New Scientist Instant Expert Event 24 March 2022. Delivered lecture and participated in panel discussions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.newscientist.com
 
Description NewScientist non-fiction and popular science books to look forward to in 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Feature in 20 non-fiction and popular science books to look forward to in 2024
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://www.newscientist.com/article/0-20-non-fiction-and-popular-science-books-to-look-forward-to-i...
 
Description News Article in online magazine Oct 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Work on causal set cosmology featured in an online article "What if the universe had no beginning?"
11 October 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.livescience.com/universe-had-no-beginning-time
 
Description Nomadas do Pensamento, opening of cycle of debates, with musician Pedro Abrunhosa and politician Pacheco Pereira. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Nomadas do Pensamento, opening of cycle of debates, with musician Pedro Abrunhosa and politician Pacheco Pereira.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description O'Raifeartaigh Lecture 22 Jun 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 100 people attended this public lecture in the annual O'Raifeartaigh Lecture Series organised by the School of Theoretical Physics at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Study. A further 164 people have watched the you tube video.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYVJ8MuB9Y
 
Description Organisation of UK QFT XI 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The UK-QFT meetings are a unique opportunity to bring together researchers from the UK communities and overseas, who are working at the forefronts of quantum field theory (QFT) and quantum gravity research across high-energy physics, cosmology, and astroparticle physics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.cern.ch/event/1242813/
 
Description Panel member on Naked Scientist BBC radio 5 show and podcast - 8th August 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Panel member on discussion show on Naked Scientist.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists-podcast/qa-knuth-curry-and-kettles
 
Description Panelist in the plenary panel discussion in "Advances in Chern-Simons Classical and Quantum Gravity" at ICERM/Brown University, May 6, 2022 - May 8, 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Advances in Chern-Simons Classical and Quantum Gravity" at ICERM/Brown University, May 6, 2022 - May 8, 2022
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Paris Conference participation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The conference took place at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris. Many talks were given by researchers combining gravity and quantum mechanics. I participated in many discussions that took place there (although did not give a talk).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL http://www.iap.fr/col2022/
 
Description Physical Society Club 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Increased interest in related subject areas
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Podcast interview at "Mind Unplugged" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview on the Mind Unplugged podcast. Topics discussed include theoretical physics and philosophy of science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Podcast interview by Robinson Erhardt Youtube 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed about my work for popular podcast. 4.3K views to date.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eozWYioLcgc
 
Description Presentation as part of concert with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London, UK, 4 Oct, 2020. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presentation as part of concert with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London, UK, 4 Oct, 2020.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Private Passions BBC radio 3 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Guest on BBC radio 3 Private Passions talking about my work and about music. Audience in 10s of thousands.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001r268
 
Description Public Talk for Chemical and Physical Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Increased interest in related subject areas
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOLaXk4njqE
 
Description Public lecture at the Cromwell Place gallery: "Space and Time: A Modern Perspective" at the exhibition Time {} and Eternal Life. (Oct 2020) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Online public lecture that was broadcast on the gallery's YouTube channel and within the gallery exhibit.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Public lecture, `Challenging Gravity' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public lecture, Challenging gravity, discussing my research over the past 15 years. There was live audience of 100 people and it was broadcast on YouTube with more than 3000 views from the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lPaGnkuLbY
 
Description Public talk for `Friends of Imperial College' Cosmology and Dark Energy 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public lecture on Dark Energy and Cosmic Acceleration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.friendsofimperial.org.uk/events/cosmology-and-dark-energy/
 
Description Radio 3 "Free Thinking" show Oct 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Contributed to episode of BBC Radio 3 programme "Free Thinking", on Time travel, 28 Oct 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010wxm
 
Description Research Frontiers Talks Imperial College 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Talk on ``Black Holes and Quantum Spacetime" about 200 people attended
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Salam Day of Celebration 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Major university-wide event to celebrate Abdus Salam's legacy and ongoing impact at Imperial. Included renaming of the College Library and public talks with several thousand people watching either in person or on line; in person and online exhibition; schools outreach through talks and online to schools in Pakistan; multiple distinguished guests and a major fundraising effort. Organisation of event and staffing of physics exhibits, outreach etc etc all from staff, postdocs and students supported by STFC grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/169629/abdus-salam-and-the-fundamental-forces-of-nature/
 
Description Schhol talk St Pauls girls school Jan 31 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk on black holes - many questions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description School Visit (Milan) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact School Science Talk and Outreach
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description School visit (Charter North Dulwich school, London) -- 4th March 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact School visit and talk on 'a modern perspective on space and time'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Science Museum panel discussion 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panel discussion "Time: All an Illusion" at the Science Museum, 1 February 2024
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/time-all-an-illusion
 
Description Scientific Senses Podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact podcast in Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eape - channel with 1.5k subscribers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqTS9B-yZZU
 
Description Scientific expert for Los Angeles Times on movie Tenet 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Provided Physics insight to the community
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-09-04/science-christopher-nolan-tenet-p...
 
Description Seminar at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented an invited talk entitled "A novel Lagrangian formulation for (chiral) p-forms and their interactions" at the Central European Institute for Cosmology and Fundamental Physics within the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ceico.cz/seminars
 
Description Speaker and Panelist at Art and Idea Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Outreach
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://howthelightgetsin.org/global/ideas-and-culture/speakers/claudia-de-rham
 
Description Speaker at Imperial Lates, public Outreach event. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Public talk to about 100 students + general public
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Steven Weinberg: Selected papers with commentaries 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited by Lars Brink (formerly Chair, Physics Nobel Prize Committee) on behalf World Scientific Press to edit the Selected Papers of Steven Weinberg
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Story telling at Great Exhibition Road Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Engagement with public
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Talk at Workshop on Scattering Amplitudes and Cosmology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk about work carried on at Imperial College at Workshop on Scattering Amplitudes and Cosmology held on ICTP, April 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.ictp.it/event/10165
 
Description Talk at COSMO 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk at international conference Cosmo 2023 held in Madrid
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://workshops.ift.uam-csic.es/COSMO23
 
Description Talk at Sloan school for girl 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Engagement with school girls encouraging them to consider STEM studies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.fhs-sw1.org.uk/news/steam-lunch-n-learn-professor-claudia-de-rham/
 
Description Talk at the 10th Bangkok Workshop on High-Energy Theory 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A talk on my recent research entitled "Lagrangian theories of chiral form interactions" was presented at Chulalongkorn University during the 10th Bangkok Workshop on High-Energy Theory.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL http://www.thaihep.phys.sc.chula.ac.th/BKK2023HEPTH/
 
Description Talk at the Beja municipal library, "o-que-havia-antes-de-haver-tempo" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact https://www.viralagenda.com/pt/events/1150077/o-que-havia-antes-de-haver-tempo-com-joao-magueijo
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.viralagenda.com/pt/events/1150077/o-que-havia-antes-de-haver-tempo-com-joao-magueijo
 
Description The Next Big Idea Club's Must Reads Books 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Next Big Idea Club reaches out to a platform of several hundred thousand newsletter recipients; a 10 million download "Next Big Idea" podcast; and 15,000 paying NBIC members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/next-big-idea-clubs-april-2024-must-read-books/47701/
 
Description The Universe speaks in numbers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Podcast Interview with Graham Farmelo

``In The Universe Speaks in Numbers award-winning science writer Graham Farmelo is in conversation with some of the great names in modern physics and mathematics''
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-universe-speaks-in-numbers/id1479389232
 
Description We Do Physics event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Day of activities + public talk + Q&A involving 4 London girl schools, motivating, engaging and supporting women in school WeDoPhysics activities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://gsa.uk.com/2024/02/the-power-of-partnerships-at-fhs-regents-park/
 
Description Women Luminaries 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact 100 people attended debate and engage in discussions on research in gravitational physics and academia. Recording available on youtube
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCUDToNuRw4
 
Description Women in Science, Engineering and Technology talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Women in Science, Engineering and Technology talk.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://imperialwset.com/event/iwd-talk-prof-claudia-de-rham/
 
Description World Science Festival - Beyond Einstein: Gravitational Rainbows 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact >60k views & >2k likes in 3 days (posted 3 days ago)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8pC_yehPH0
 
Description Youtube Channel Scientia Egregia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Lectures on theoretical physics given in livestreams on Youtube. Viewed on average by 10000 people. Total views >100000 hours.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019,2020,2021,2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQFaJoQu0TP7je5HchCNjHA