Outreach and science communication
Besides regularly communicating about black holes, gravity, the physics of information, and the physics of the didgeridoo, I have put a lot of effort in creating outreach platforms in various countries and managing various outreach grants. My main project is Science & Cocktails – a series of events revolving around science lectures. In addition, I ‘ve fostered interactions between scientists and artists in the context of different projects (dance and theatre performance), and have also acted as advisor for the Danish and Azorean governments on science outreach activities. I have received the Geniusprisen in 2014 at the European Conference of Science Journalists and the Outreach Prize in 2023 attributed by the European Physical Society.
Below is a selected set of outreach projects and activities from the various I have been involved in.
Science & Cocktails
In 2010 I founded Science & Cocktails – an event and lecture series that revolves around science combining elements from the night culture. The series now runs in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels and Johannesburg. More than 265 events have been organised by the end of 2022 and in Copenhagen the average audience is of 1000 per event, becoming one of the most popular outreach platform in Europe. The event series is capable of reaching out to an ever increasing and diverse audience, many of which would not otherwise be inclined to attend science lectures. I continue to be the chairman of the Science & Cocktails Foundation.
Outreach Prize
In 2023 I received the Outreach Prize attributed by the high-energy physics section of the European Physical society for “for his outstanding combination of activities on science communication, most notably for the ‘Science & Cocktails’ event series, revolving around science lectures which incorporate elements of the nightlife such as music/art performances and cocktail craftsmanship and reaching out to hundreds of thousands in five different cities world-wide.“
Act of Gravity
In 2020 I initiated, together with the Recoil Performance Group, the production of a dance performance based on Gravity. The performance incorporated elements of general relativity, black holes, holography, cosmology and the multiverse. A large trampoline of 9m x 4m was built in order to highlight the effect of gravity while bodies move in space and time.
Talks on gravity
In connection with the dance performance Act of Gravity, I gave a series of talks in Copenhagen and Aarhus about Gravity starting with Newton, passing by Einstein and ending in String Theory. One of these talks featured the programme of CPH Stage 2022.
DATA DATA: the history of the computer
In 2021 I initiated, together with Teater Fantast, the production of a theatre play based on the computer, from analogue to quantum. The play is directed at an audience from 6 years old all the way to adults, and incorporates elements from physics, computer science, mathematics and history.
In connection with this play, I gave a couple of talks on the physics of information.
Black hole documentary series
I was part of a series of short documentaries produced for Science & Cocktails where the themes of black holes, the universe and dark matter were central.
ProSucesso
Since 2015 that I am part of the Azorean Governmental outreach programme aimed at decreasing high school drop out rates in the Azores. I have featured in inspirational videos and given a few inspirational talks at Azorean high schools.
Cultural and Scientific newspaper Fazendo
In 2008 I co-created a cultural and scientific newspaper in Faial island which was later expanded to the whole of the Azores. From 2008 to 2012 I was the newspaper director and vice-president of the Fazendo NGO. The newspaper was printed twice per month. Nowadays the newspaper is no longer printed but the NGO continues its activity via a cultural festival Maravilha taking place every second year.