Presented by:
Nicholas Braithwaite, Emeritus Professor of Engineering Physics at The Open University
Location: Kings Auditorium in Kings College, University of Aberdeen
Date : Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Timings:
6:30-7:00PM: Light refreshments
7:00 - 8:00PM: Public Lecture
The Public Lecture is free to attend and open to everyone from all backgrounds, whether you are an experienced physicist or if you have an interest in the subject and want to learn more.
You do not need to register for the full conference in order to attend, but please pre-register for the free public lecture via the button below.Abstract:
Without plasmas we’d be completely in the dark - literally and figuratively
Plasmas are very much the stuff of active stars and have been for several billion years. Planets with atmospheres exposed to intense starlight are likely to be bathed in ionospheric plasma - as the Earth has been from very early in its evolution. Later, as an inevitable consequence of the atmosphere becoming moist and convective, lightning brought plasmas down to Earth.
Eventually via static electricity and electromagnetism plasmas became something we could switch on and off at will - to make ozone, to make light from gas, to make solid materials that emit light and to make the chips that power our information age.
This talk will explore the connections between stars, satellites, super bright lights and semiconductors.
About the Speaker:
Nicholas was promoted to Professor of Engineering Physics at The Open University in 2002 in recognition of his international research profile in plasma science and his extensive contributions to teaching in electrical engineering and physics. His research spans a wide range of non‑equilibrium plasmas, with a particular focus on those used in technological applications. He serves as a senior member of the editorial board of the IoP journal Plasma Sources Science and Technology and is coauthor of The Physics of Radio Frequency Plasmas (CUP). As an educator, he has contributed to a broad portfolio of engineering and science courses. His leadership in developing the remote‑access OpenSTEM Labs has earned significant recognition for innovation in distance education, including the 2020 Lawrence Bragg Medal of the Institute of Physics for outstanding and sustained contributions to physics education. The OpenSTEM Labs now provide more than 100,000 hours of remotely accessed practical engagement each year and have received multiple awards for educational innovation, including a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2023.
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