Conferences
Over the past decades, the Maxwell Society has been organising a Study Weekend on an annual basis at different locations like King's College London and Cumberland Lodge, located in the heart of the Great Park of Windsor. The aim of this event is to inspire and introduce our members to cutting edge research, in a relaxed atmosphere away from lecture halls.
2019 - Quantum physics: The second revolution
"I don't like it, and I'm sorry I ever had anything to do with it." (Erwin Schrödinger 1887 - 1961)
Over the last 25 years or so, quantum physics has given rise to a second revolution. With a continuous new set of experiments occuring everyday, scientists have shown that the realm of quantum physics can be used to do useful things that would be impossible using classical methods.
But why is quantum physics still evolving, and branching out into other fields? Why is it so strange? This year, our speakers hope to provide intuitive and thought-provoking answers to these questions.
2018 - A New Window On THe Universe
Gravitational waves are 'ripples' in the fabric of space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe. Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity. This year we are proud to hold our weekend at Cumberland Lodge on the subject of gravitational waves; with amazing talks covering their nature, the history of their observation, and how they will forever change the way look at the cosmos in the future. We hope you will join us in looking through this ‘New Window on the Universe’.
2017 - Photon Stories
In this year’s study weekend entitled “Photon Stories”, we are exploring the fascinating journey of a photon. Starting from the center of a massive star to reach and illuminate live cells in the human body, and throughout History from the ancient world until modern technology. Light has a rich, inspiring and instructive biography that we invite you to share in at Cumberland Lodge!
2016 - The Physics of Life
"How can the events in space an time, which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?" (Erwin Schroedinger, What's life? 1944)
At the 2016 Cumberland Lodge week end, we will address this famous question and discuss how current and past research in the physical sciences crucially contributes to our understanding of biological systems and processes: from the structure of DNA, to brain communication and bird navigation.
2015 - Light Fantastic
You are invited to Cumberland Lodge to find out about the weird and wonderful ways we can manipulate light to improve technology, medicine and our understanding of the world around us. From biological lasers for use inside our bodies, to using a grasshopper ‘observer’ to see at what point the wavefunction collapses, Light really is FANTASTIC!
2013 - Space Exploration
At this year’s Cumberland lodge we will investigate the processes that occur in deep space and the great engineering and biological problems associated with sending up people to investigate them. We will then look at the history and conspiracies around manned space flight, before discussing whether manned or unmanned space flight is the future of exploration.