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Here’s a question for you dear listener. What’s the link between music and physics? What is the sound of physics? Today we're diving into a fascinating world where art, science, and music intersect. Joining us in our studio are two incredible individuals who have embarked on a journey that brings together the realms of sound, physics, and human emotion.

Ain Bailey is a composer and the second Cavendish Arts Science Fellow. Cavendish Arts Science creates collective encounters between art and science that explore the world, our humanity and our place in the world.

Ain’s practice explores sonic autobiographies and the constellation of sounds that form individual and community identities. Her compositions are often inspired by reflections on silence and absence, feminist activism and architectural acoustics.

Dr Gemma Bale is an assistant professor of Medical Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge, and the head of the Neuro Optics Lab. Sitting at the junction of engineering and physics, her team develops new, non-invasive optical devices to monitor brain metabolism in areas which traditional brain monitoring can’t. Lately, she’s been exploring the relationship between music and dementia, and it was only a matter of time before she and Ain’s worlds collided, and a conversation sparked.  

With Ain and Gemma, we talk about music of course, and how our brains react to it, exploring the unknown and bridging the gap between art and science.

Useful links

• Ain’s performance ‘The Cavendish: A Tone Poem’ at Girton College (Cambridge) is on Saturday 23rd September at 3pm– Book ahead! She will also perform at Café Oto (London) in November, look out for the date on their website.
• The annual Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship is delivered in partnership with Girton College, thanks to the vision and generous support of Una Ryan. Cavendish Arts Science will soon announce their new Fellow for 2023/24, stay tuned!
• Explore Gemma’s research on her Neuro Optics Lab website
• See and hear more of Ain’s work on AIN BAILEY (tumblr.com)
• To learn more about the Cavendish Laboratory, or if you are interested in joining us or studying with us, go to the Cavendish website.

Share and join the conversation

• If you like this episode don’t forget to rate it and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps others to find us.
• Any comment about the podcast or question you would like to ask our physicists, email us at podcast@phy.cam.ac.uk or join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #PeopleDoingPhysics.

Episode credits

• Hosts: Simone Eizagirre Barker and Vanessa Bismuth
• Recording and Editing: Chris Brock