Sips & Scholars: Alfred Lee on "Quantum Physics at 100"

Sips & Scholars is a free lecture series in partnership with the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research set in bars and restaurants all over Brooklyn. This session, entitled: "Quantum Physics at 100" will be led by Professor Alfred Lee. 

When Werner Heisenberg sketched the first tentative formulation of quantum mechanics in 1925, no one could have predicted the immense changes that would result to technology and society. Life today would be radically different without lasers, semiconductors, or continual references to Schrödinger's cat. 2025 has been dubbed the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations to celebrate this most successful scientific theory. This lecture will describe the major theoretical and technological milestones, their impacts on our lives, the future of basic and applied research, and of course, what even is quantum mechanics?

Everyone is welcome! Come ready to learn and open to discuss interesting questions together. Advanced reading is not required, but we encourage you to check out the suggested booklist. 

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PARTICIPANT

Alfred Lee is a member of the associate faculty at Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. He earned a Ph.D. in Physics from The University of Texas at Austin with a certification in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Prior to that, he earned a B.A. in Physics and an M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. He has since worked in the private and social sectors and is currently an independent consultant specializing in data science and technology strategy. Ever curious about nature, complexity, plurality, and ways of knowing, his research interests fall along the lines of philosophy of science, metascience, complex systems, cognitive science, science and technology studies, and social criticism.