Author and project lead Dr. Jana Heysel says: “Our aim with the ‘Phyusical’ is not only to explain some of the physical phenomena around us but also to make people enthusiastic about science and speak to their emotions.” Adopting a blend of humor and reflection, the play explores key issues in the energy transition: how are we going to generate electricity? What role are heat pumps, hydrogen and nuclear fusion set to play? The experiments reveal the underlying physical principles, while live songs invite the audience to smile, reflect and get swept up in the excitement. The format behind the physics musical, which was developed at the University of Bonn, is the only one of its kind in the world.
Physics Show members involved both on stage and behind the scenes
All the actors and backstage crew are drawn from the ranks of the Physics Show. “The ‘Phyusical’ is a great opportunity to showcase the latest research on stage alongside our studies,” says Tien-Son Nguyen, who is involved as both a performer and a pianist. Sophia Paul adds: “I’m hugely excited to combine my twin passions—music and physics—on stage.” The Physics Show’s founder and director, Professor Herbert Dreiner from the Institute of Physics, says: “For the first time ever in the history of the Physics Show, we’ve been able to raise funds to put toward creating a new show. The commitment shown by the group has been fantastic.”
Big plans for the ‘Phyusical’
Following its Bonn premiere, the show will be heading off on tour, taking up invitations from the SILBERSALZ Festival in Halle (Saale), Berlin Science Week, JUNGE UNI in Bocholt, TU Dortmund University and the University of Siegen. There are also plans for the ‘Phyusical’ to extend its run beyond the end of the Science Year, as Dr. Jana Heysel explains: “We’re looking to publish the script and the score at the end of the year so that schools and other institutions can stage the play themselves.”
The Science Year 2025 and energy of the future
The Science Year 2025 is all about energy of the future. How can we come up with an energy mix that is clean, reliable, affordable and resource-efficient? What technologies have already been developed, and what are researchers currently working on? What new energy partnerships does our country need? What will the energy supply of the future look like, and how will it impact on society? The Science Year 2025 focuses on the importance of research for securing a climate-neutral energy supply in the economy and society. Energy research is a multilayered, interdisciplinary, capital-intensive and strategic task. Climate change and finite resources coupled with growing global demand for energy are presenting governments, industry and individual citizens with new challenges, which researchers are currently tackling. Through a wide range of activities, the Science Year 2025 is inviting the public to gain an insight into some of the problem-solving strategies being proposed by energy researchers, learn about the latest innovations and findings, and engage in dialogue with figures from science, politics, industry and society.
The Science Year is an initiative by the BMFTR in partnership with the organization Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD).
Free tickets can be obtained from the Physics Show website at
https://www.physik-astro.uni-bonn.de/physikshow.
Performances in Bonn:
October 25, 2 pm and 6 pm
October 26, 11 am
November 16, 6 pm
Venue: Wolfgang Paul lecture hall, Kreuzbergweg 28, 53115 Bonn
