Jim Al-Khalili Public Lecture: Open Systems in Quantum Biology and Beyond

Open Systems in Quantum Biology and Beyond

A lecture by Jim Al-Khalili followed by a drinks reception for schoolteachers.

Throughout science a distinction is made between systems and their environments. Systems can be treated as either open, if they exchange energy, matter, heat or information with the environment, and closed if they do not. For example, a chemically closed system is one that does not exchange matter with the environment (though it may exchange heat with it), and a thermodynamically closed system does not exchange heat with the environment. Living systems are only able to exist because they are open systems that exchange energy, matter, heat and information with their environments. This is the first of a series of events on open systems organised by the Thinking Science project at the University of Bristol, focusing on A-Level Physics education.

We welcome physics teachers and our colleagues in science education to fill in a questionnaire prior to the VIP meet and greet with Jim after his talk. You will have VIP seating at the front of the Great Hall, before moving onto the exclusive wine reception. Any enquiries to be directed to [email protected]

For bookings for pupils and general audiences, please refer to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jim-al-khalili-public-lecture-does-life-know-about-quantum-mechanics-tickets-631369983617?aff=erellivmlt

We look forward to meeting with you at this inaugural event.

‘Does Life Know about Quantum Mechanics?’, Jim Al-Khalili

What seems to be emerging from our work is that not only does life make use of quantum mechanics to make it more efficient (long-lived quantum coherence in photosynthesis, quantum entanglement in magnetoreception in animals, tunnelling in enzyme action), but that sometimes quantum mechanics is too prevalent: proton tunnelling in DNA H-bonds leading to too high a level of mutations and so life seems to have evolved mechanisms to mitigate against this and stop quantum mechanics from having such a big effect. Either way, life needs to know about quantum mechanics.

The lecture will be open to all and advertised separately. Please only sign up for this event if you want to attend the reception afterwards which is for schoolteachers and members of the university interested in physics education.

Further information:

Jim Al-Khalili website: https://jimal-khalili.com/

The 21st European Conference on Foundations of Physics: Foundationshttps://takingupspacetime.wordpress.com/2022/12/12/conference-foundations-21-bristol-8-10-july-2023/

Thinking Science Project: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/philosophy/thinking-science/

Host or Publisher University of Bristol