Why Quantum Research Matters: From Curiosity to Real-World Impact
About the Lecture
On the occasion of the opening of the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute and the launch of the 10th edition of the international workshop on Emergent Phenomena in Quantum Hall Systems, I will describe how the discovery of the "quantum Hall effect" emerged from basic, curiosity driven research into the behavior of electrons in extreme conditions, and how this unexpected finding eventually revolutionized the international system of measurement standards.
I will recount some of the historical circumstances surrounding the discovery and explain, in non-technical terms, the remarkable precision and universality of the quantum Hall effect, and how it ultimately revealed deep connections between microscopic quantum physics, fundamental constants of nature, and the macroscopic world of measurements used in science and technology. The quantum Hall effect has also opened entirely new directions in condensed matter physics, inspiring the modern field of topological quantum matter and influencing ongoing efforts toward future quantum technologies.
This lecture is intended for a broad audience, including students and non-specialists. No prior background in physics is required. Only required is curiosity about how fundamental discoveries can shape our understanding of the world and, sometimes unexpectedly, change everyday life.
KLAUS VON KLITZING
DIRECTOR EMERITUS, MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR SOLID STATE RESEARCH,
RECIPIENT OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS (1985)
Director Emeritus of the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany. Awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect, a breakthrough that transformed our understanding of quantum matter and launched the modern field of topological phases of matter. One of only two living scientists to have a fundamental constant named after them: the von Klitzing constant, RK. Recipient of numerous awards, including 22 honorary doctorates; foreign member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, and many other leading academies worldwide.
Event Overview
Date: 26 May, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM onwards
Venue: Homi Bhabha Auditorium, Mumbai
Q&A with a Panel of Eminent Physicists
Following the lecture, an interactive panel discussion will bring together some of the world’s leading physicists:
Have a question for the speakers?
If you’re attending, you can submit a question for the panel here. Selected questions will be asked during the Q&A.
Submit HereWho all can attend?
The lecture is open to all who are curious about science and its possibilities. No prior background in quantum physics is required - only curiosity.
For Public Lecture Poster, click here to download