Our new series, Humanities on the Mall, filled our mini-agora at 555 Penn on Sunday, March 3rd with guest speakers Sean Carroll and Hahrie Han, chatting about what the physics of atoms and social sciences of individuals can learn from each other. Getting at “The Physics of Democracy,” both speakers pointed out, is no simply thing—not least for how often the differences in our expectations for how people and particles act (and react). But thinking about the ripple effects of actions and reactions—how small, local movement can have far-reaching effects throughout a system—offers one way that the physics of our everyday universe might (our speakers discussed) make us re-think the state of democracy in America today.
Humanities on the Mall will be back on April 7 for a film screening of Devoted [Devoti Tutti], a documentary by director and JHU professor Bernadette Wegenstein, in conversation with Eugenio Refini (NYU). All are welcome to attend the film and join us for a discussion after! More info on our event page here.
Until then, we thank all our lovely guests who joined us in DC in March. And if you weren’t able to make it to Sean and Hahrie’s talk, here are some more fun ways you can learn about their work:
Sean Carroll:
Hahrie Han:
See you all in April!