Melbourne QDM Experience
- 22 August 2026
- 11am–2pm
- B117 theatre, Glyn Davis Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, 3010
Join the National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip in Melbourne for public talks and a hands-on quantum and dark matter experience!
Australian scientists are working on cutting edge quantum and dark matter research right here in Melbourne. Join us for an immersive event showcasing the science behind two of the most fascinating frontiers in physics. You will hear talks from two experts and have the opportunity to drop in either before or after the talks to experience some hands on physics demonstrations and talk to scientists exploring the invisible universe from the search for dark matter, which makes up 85% of all matter, to the powerful role of quantum technologies in unlocking its secrets. This event invites audiences of all ages to go behind the scenes of world-class research and witness how new experiments are pushing the boundaries of what we know about the cosmos.
The schedule for the day is as follows:
- 11.00am-12pm: Demonstrations drop in
- 12.00pm-1:00pm: Public Talks with Q&A from Professor Nicole Bell and Dr Dan McCloskey
- 1.00pm-2:00pm: Demonstrations drop in
Date: Saturday 22nd August 2026
Time: 11am–2pm
Venue: Theatre B117, Glyn Davis Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010 (B117, Maps)
Throughout the event, the team will have interactive quantum and dark matter demos on display, as well as a fun activities such as badge-making. In addition to these drop-in activities, there will be two public talks on quantum technologies and dark matter discovery.
Speaker 1: Professor Nicole Bell
Nicole is a theoretical physicist at the University of Melbourne. Her research lies at the interface of particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, with particular expertise in dark matter and neutrino physics. She leads the Theory Program of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the American Physical Society.
Title: Searching for Dark Matter, on Earth and in the Stars
The quest to identify the dark matter that pervades our Universe is one of the foremost goals in science today. Yet its elusive nature makes this a formidable task. This talk will describe how physicists are hunting for dark matter in experiments on Earth, and how the stars themselves may act as giant dark matter detectors.
Speaker 2: Dr Dan McCloskey
Dan is a McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne. He conducts experimental research in surface and materials science, semiconductor physics, and photonics with a focus on the application of colour centres in diamond to optical and optoelectronic sensing, particularly biosensing and voltage imaging for neuroscience. Daniel received B. Eng (engineering physics) and B. Sc (applied mathematics) degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2017, and is a recipient of the Canada Governor General’s Academic Medal. He received his PhD (physics) from the University of Melbourne in 2021.
Title: Cells & Superpositions: New Quantum Tools for the Life Sciences
Quantum technologies are now attracting substantial hype among media, investors, and governments, promising improvements across computing, communication, and advanced sensing. As the governing physics of the very small, it’s natural to wonder whether there is any benefit to be had from exploiting quantum mechanics to better understand the mechanisms of life, which tend to occur on micro- and- nanoscopic scales. While very little in the way of ‘quantum biotechnology’ has yet entered the mainstream, exciting work in this area is very much underway in labs around the world. In this lecture, we’ll dive into some of the most promising possible uses of quantum biotechnologies, from detecting how molecules change shape inside the body, imaging electrical signals within neurons and brains, and even designing new of types of proteins which may one day allow us to control our own cells using magnetic fields. Along the way, we’ll demystify the terminology surrounding the word ‘quantum’ and get to the heart of when and where that does (and doesn’t) mean ‘better’.
This event will have activities suitable for all ages. The presentations are targeted at a junior high-school level, but should appeal to general audiences.
This is a FREE event but registration is required. We are very grateful to The University of Melbourne for their support of this event.
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