Sydney Quantum and Dark Matter Experience
- 22 August 2026
- 10am–1pm
- Sydney Nanoscience Hub, The University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006
Join the National Quantum & Dark Matter Road Trip in Sydney for a hands-on quantum and dark matter experience!
Join us for an immersive event showcasing the cutting-edge science behind two of the most fascinating frontiers in physics. Through live demonstrations, expert talks, and exclusive lab tours, you’ll discover how Australian scientists are 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:
- 10.00 am: Dark Matter & Quantum Demonstrations
- 11:00 am: Public Talks with Q&A from Dr Georgia Nixon and Dr Ciaran O’Hare
- 12.00 pm: Demonstrations and Lab Tours
Date: Saturday 22 August 2026
Time: 10am–1pm
Venue: Messel Lecture Theatre, Sydney Nanoscience Hub, Camperdown NSW
Throughout the event, the team will have interactive quantum and dark matter demos on display, as well as a range of activities such as colouring-in and badge-making. There will also be opportunities to tour a quantum physics lab! At 11:00am, head to the Messel lecture theatre to hear talks from Georgia Nixon and Ciaran O’Hare.
Speaker 1: Ciaran O’Hare
Ciaran O’Hare is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney. He is a theoretical physicist who primarily works on developing ideas to detect dark matter in the laboratory and in space.
Title: Can we capture dark matter in the lab?
I will explain about how we are trying to make the invisible visible; revealing dark matter’s true nature inside laboratory experiments. I will highlight the ways quantum mechanics may both help and hinder us in this quest.
Speaker 2: Georgia Nixon
Georgia Nixon is a theoretical quantum physicist at the University of Sydney. She works on how large entangled quantum systems can be controlled well enough to serve as quantum computers and simulators.
Title: Quantum physics at scale
Quantum physics is famously strange, but most of that strangeness is described one particle at a time. What happens when you put a lot of quantum things together? I’ll explain why large quantum systems are so hard to pin down, and how physicists are learning to control them well enough to simulate exotic physics – and to build a quantum computer.
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 Sydney for their support of this event.
View all events