The Beholder’s Quantum Share

Physicist, science communicator and children’s book author Chris Ferrie talks about the intersection of art and science, setting the scene for the opening of Duality – an artistic exploration of quantum science.

• Date: Tuesday 14 May 2024

• Time: 6:30–8pm

• Location: Messel Lecture Theatre (4002), Sydney Nanoscience Hub (A31), Physics Road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, NSW

• Cost: free, with optional donation to DeadlyScience

This event is Auslan-interpreted.

Title: The Beholder's Quantum Share

The art theory concept of the “beholder’s share” suggests that the viewer of an artwork contributes their unique personal memories, emotions and cultural context to complete the piece. The subjective experience of art does not exist without the perception of a beholder. Quantum physics takes this one step further and demonstrates that the physical manifestation of art does not exist without an observer. There is no observer-independent objective reality. You are not the architects of reality, but your observational interactions bring about its final completion – your beholder’s “quantum” share.

Chris Ferrie is a theoretical physicist, science communicator, author, father of four and happy husband. His day job is academic research, where he follows his curiosity through the word of quantum physics. His passion for communicating science has led from the most esoteric topics of mathematical physics to more recently writing children’s books.

During the day you will find Chris as an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney and Centre for Quantum Software and Information, and an Associate Investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS). His research interests include quantum estimation and control, and, in particular, the use of machine learning to solve statistical problems in quantum information science. He obtained his PhD in applied mathematics from the Institute for Quantum Computing and University of Waterloo (Canada) in 2012.

About Duality

Duality is an artistic exploration of quantum science, an exhibition showcasing entries to the 2023 EQUS Quantum Art Competition. Run by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS), the 2023 Quantum Art Competition invited artists to explore quantum science through their medium of choice, drawing inspiration from the competition theme, ‘duality’.

The exhibition is open to the public daily, 16–20 May 2024 (free entry). For more information, visit https://equs.org/events/duality-quantum-art-exhibition.