Why Aesthetics Matters for Scientific Work?
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 16:30-18:30
Senate House, Room 264
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Finding beauty in nature, discovering hidden relations, patterns and symmetries, expressing physical principles in elegant mathematical manner are all motivations expressed by scientists over the centuries. What precisely drives scientists to pursue such aesthetic goals in their research and how does the search for beauty inform the questions scientists ask, the ideas they entertain and the products they create? In this talk we explore the diverse contexts within which scientists exercise their aesthetic judgements, the rich aesthetic experiences science offers and ask what role these aesthetic aspects of science play in the pursuit of knowledge.
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Following NHS guidance, all attendees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated (including boosters) against Covid-19, unless medically exempt. Our group is diverse; please continue to be considerate of those who wear face coverings and those who don’t. Thank you.