On Thursday 15 August 2024, as part of the National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip, Dr Ben McAllister gave a public talk titled Shining a light on dark matter.
Australian scientists are on the cutting edge of the quest to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in the Universe: the nature of dark matter. This talk discusses the innovative research being conducted to understand the elusive substance that makes up about 85% of the matter in the Universe. Central to these efforts is the development of new technologies, including quantum technologies, which are enhancing our capabilities to search for dark matter with unprecedented precision. We will learn how new technology and new experiments are pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and bringing us closer to uncovering the secrets of the cosmos. This talk is designed for all audiences, offering a glimpse into the world of Australian and global dark matter research, and the future of quantum science.
About the speaker
Dr Ben McAlister is a physicist and science communicator who works across dark matter and quantum technology. When he’s not in the lab working on new experiments, he’s usually somewhere else talking about them. Ben works at Swinburne University of Technology, and is a member of the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and Dark Matter Particle Physics (CDM). He is one of the organisers of the National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip, and a lifelong North Melbourne Football Club tragic.
