Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series

You may also be interested in Caltech's other signature lecture series, the Theodore von Kármán Lectures and Science Journeys.

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Watson conducting his famous "liquid-air" experiment at Caltech in 1953 during a Friday Evening Demonstration Lecture.

Established in 1922, the Watson Lectures bring Caltech's most innovative scientific research to the public.

Originally known as the "Friday Evening Demonstration Lectures", this public lecture series was started by Earnest C. Watson, a professor of physics at Caltech from 1919 to 1959, in order to share modern scientific advances with the public. Eventually renamed in his honor, the Watson Lectures continue to spotlight the pioneering research Caltech's faculty is currently conducting.

Watson Lectures are free and open to the public. The 2021-2022 Watson Lectures will be presented virtually on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Pacific at caltech.edu/watson. Register for each lecture online to add them to your calendar and to receive an email reminder.

Upcoming Lectures

Image of igenous rock, overlaid with text reading January 19.

When Earth Breathed Deeply

Claire E. Bucholz, Assistant Professor of Geology

Oxygen levels in the atmosphere have increased by many orders of magnitude throughout Earth’s history, profoundly affecting biologic and chemical cycles at the surface of the Earth. In this lecture, Claire Bucholz will explore how shifts in atmospheric oxygen concentrations went even deeper, altering Earth’s inner workings.

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Image of 1s and 0s with text overlay reading February 9.

Artificial Intelligence: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Yaser Abu-Mostafa (PhD '83), Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a remarkable technology that has profoundly impacted our lives. It now beats humans at some of their own games. How did we get here? In this lecture, Abu-Mostafa will describe the scientific journey of AI since the 1980s, as well as Caltech's foundational role in its development, providing examples of AI's achievements and its potential. He will also address the hype that surrounds AI, both positive and negative, and put it in scientific perspective.

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Explore Past Lectures

Recent physics breakthroughs have revealed that, in carefully engineered materials, quantum effects not only show up in the macroscopic world but also fundamentally change the way these materials behave. Xie Chen will cover superconductivity, topological order, and a range of phenomena in quantum matters that may hold unprecedented power for quantum computers and even for our fundamental understanding of the universe.

The events of 9/11 spurred Julia Kornfield's research team to begin researching polymers that, when added to fuels like gasoline, minimize the risk of explosion when ignited. These polymers, known as megasupramolecules, change the way liquid fuels flow and could help reduce fatalities and injuries from plane crashes, auto accidents, and IED attacks on the battlefield.

Find more past Watson Lectures on Caltech's YouTube channel.