The researcher will participate in the festival as a speaker presenting topic - - Importance of fundamental physics research with examples from Ventspils and MIT

Insight into the topic:   

Spending taxpayer money on applied physics research with clear practical goals like faster computer chips or more efficient car engines is easier to justify than investing in fundamental physics research. However, using two examples from Ventspils and MIT I will argue that fundamental physics research can also be of significant consequence to the society and deserves your attention and support. First, I will present the research of the Solar Physics Research Group at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre and the importance of space weather predictions. Second, I will share the example of the company "Butterfly Network" and its origins in fundamental astrophysics research at MIT.

More about "Icebreakers'20"  -here.