Hello!
In this first post I introduce myself and the kind of content I'll write about. Tl;dr: quantum science and tech, fundamental physics, thought experiments, entropy and science communication.
Welcome to my Substack
Hi! I’m Maria Violaris. I am in my final year of a PhD in the foundations of quantum information at the University of Oxford, and alongside research, I love doing science communication and community building. In this post, I’ll tell you a bit about my background in research and content creation, and what to expect from my future posts.
1. You do quantum research? Does quantum even make sense?!
Yes, and yes! One of the aims of my PhD and content creation is to explain how quantum mechanics can be applied to many different situations, including large, macroscopic scales, without causing any contradictions. While it doesn’t cause fundamental paradoxes, it’s still very cool and counterintuitive, and I aim to figure out and explain exactly how “weird” quantum mechanics is and where the weirdness comes from. You can find out more about my research, content, and background on my website: https://www.mariaviolaris.com.
2. Who is this for and will I understand anything?
Some of my posts will be accessible for a general audience, and some may do a deeper dive into technical quantum information science, thermodynamics or quantum computing topics, targeted for learners or researchers in the field. I hope that anyone intrigued by fundamental physics, quantum science and technology, entropy and thermodynamics, science communication, education, and academic research may find something of interest here.
3. How often will you post?
Depending on when the inspiration comes, perhaps I will write multiple posts in succession with pauses for some time in between, or perhaps it will settle into a regular rhythm. We’ll see!
4. What’s your favourite thought experiment?
Thought experiments are my favourite tool for science communication, and I’ve been using them and writing about them since High School (I published a Lateral Thoughts article in Physics World magazine called “A Physics Lab Inside Your Head” in February 2016!). Just by imagining a scenario in your head, you can perform experiments and make real advances in science. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Maxwell’s Demon: a hypothetical creature that can turn information into useful energy, simply by sorting fast and slow particles into different sides of a box.
5. Any fun facts?
It’s not a proper introduction without a fun fact. Here’s the one I bring out for the ice-breaker sessions: My surname, Violaris, means “violinist” in Greek. This is because my great grandfather was a Greek Cypriot violinist, and was nicknamed “Violaris” in his community in Cyprus. The nickname stuck as a surname down the generations. I also play the violin — maybe it’s in the genes, or a case of nominative determinism*!
*The hypothesis that a person's name can significantly influence their career choice, personal characteristics, or life path.
That’s all for now — happy reading, and if there’s a particular topic you’d like to see in future posts, please feel free to leave it in the comments! :)