How do we really measure the world we live in and why did scientists decide it was time to redefine the foundations of measurement itself?

In this lecture, Nobel Prize winner Dr. William Phillips explores the most radical transformation of the International System of Units (SI) since its origins in the French Revolution. Instead of relying on physical artefacts, all base units are now defined by fixed values of natural constants. The talk explains why this reform was necessary and how it works.

Dr. William Phillips is coming to your campus: this is your chance to hear directly from a Nobel Prize winner and engage with one of the most fundamental questions in modern physics.

Event dates and locations:

Basel
March 16, 2026 · 16:15
University of Basel, Department of Physics
Followed by an apéro

Lucerne
March 17, 2026 · 11:15–12:15
HSLU, Campus Horw
Free sandwiches

Zurich
March 17, 2026 · 18:15
ETH HG F3 Zurich
Followed by an apéro

Bern
March 18, 2026 · 18:15
University of Bern (UniBe), UniS, S003
Followed by an apéro

Rapperswil
March 19, 2026 · 12:00–13:00
FH OST Rapperswil
Free sandwiches

Hinweis: Diese Verantstaltungen finden nur in englischer Sprache statt.