Show notes
Guest: Dr. Suzie Sheehy, Author, physicist, science communicator, and academic professor of accelerator physics at the University of Oxford [@unimelb / @UniofOxford]
On Twitter | https://twitter.com/suziesheehy
Knopf Publisher | https://twitter.com/AAKnopf
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Hosts:
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/sean-martin
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Episode Introduction
In this podcast episode, host Marco Ciappelli and guest Suzie Sheehy discuss the book "The Matter of Everything" which explores the history of physics through the lens of experimentalists and highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in the field. They also touch on the topic of diversity and inclusion in STEM and the importance of recognizing the biases and cultural legacies that have contributed to the underrepresentation of women in science.”
Welcome to a new Audio Signals Podcast Episode with your host Marco Ciappelli. In this episode, we feature a book that takes readers on a fascinating journey through the experiments that not only unlocked the nature of matter and shaped our understanding of the cosmos but also forever changed the way we live within it. This is a brilliant book that focuses on fundamental problems in physics written from the viewpoint of the experimenter. An inspiring story of discovery and a powerful reminder that progress is a function of our desire to know.
In this episode, Ciappelli and Sheehy discuss the topic of diversity and inclusion in STEM, particularly the contribution of women in science. Sheehy introduces us to the people who, through a combination of genius, persistence, and luck, staged the experiments that changed the course of history. Many of these experiments were conducted by women, and the book highlights the challenges and biases they faced in a male-dominated field.
Sheehy delves into the stories of some of these women, such as Harriet Brooks, Mary is a blouse, and Lisa Meitner, who made significant contributions to the early understanding of radioactive decay, half-life, and the radioactive transformation of elements. The book also explores the cultural and sociological legacy that has led to the underrepresentation of women in physics and other STEM fields.
Ciappelli and Sheehy emphasize the need for more role models for young girls and women to increase their sense of belonging in the field. The conversation also highlights the importance of recognizing the contribution of underrepresented groups in science and ensuring that their stories are included in the main flow of the text.
Join Ciappelli and Sheehy as they discuss the experiments that changed the course of history and the challenges faced by women in science in this episode of Audio Signals Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and read the book to learn more about the fascinating world of physics and the people behind some of the most significant breakthroughs in science.
About the Book
A surprising, fascinating journey through the experiments that not only unlocked the nature of matter and shaped our understanding of the cosmos but also forever changed the way we live within it
"A book about the fundamental problems of physics written from a viewpoint I hadn’t come across before: that of the experimenter. A splendid idea, vividly carried out.” –Philip Pullman, best-selling author of His Dark Materials
Physics has always sought to deepen our understanding of the nature of matter and the world around us. But how do you conduct experiments with the fundamental building blocks of existence? How do you manipulate a particle a trillion times smaller than a grain of sand? How do you cause a proton to sail around a twenty-seven-kilometer-long loop 11,000 times per second? And, crucially, why is all this important?
In The Matter of Everything, accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy introduces us to the people who, through a combination of genius, persistence and luck, staged the experiments that changed the course of history. From the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in a German laboratory to the scientists trying to prove Einstein wrong (and inadvertently proving him right) to the race to split open the atom, these brilliant experiments led to some of the most significant breakthroughs in science and fundamentally changed our lives. They have helped us detect the flow of lava deep inside volcanoes, develop life-saving medical techniques like diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy, and create radio, TV, microwaves, smartphones—even the World Wide Web itself—among countless other advancements.
Along the way, Sheehy pulls back the curtain to reveal how physics is really done—not only by theorists with equation-filled blackboards but also by experimentalists with hand-blown glass, hot air balloons and cathedral-sized electronics. Celebrating human ingenuity, creativity and above all curiosity, The Matter of Everything is an inspiring story of discovery and a powerful reminder that progress is a function of our desire to know.
DR. SUZIE SHEEHY is a physicist, science communicator and academic who divides her time between research groups at the University of Oxford and University of Melbourne. She is currently focused on developing new particle accelerators for applications in medicine. The Matter of Everything is her first book.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/RTqJaNKxRw4
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Resources
Book: THE MATTER OF EVERYTHING: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbable Experiments Changed the World: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624408/the-matter-of-everything-by-suzie-sheehy/
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