Smitha Vishveshwara

Smitha Vishveshwara

Smitha Vishveshwara is a Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a writer, a science-artist, an educator, and a mother. Through her scientific field of expertise in quantum condensed matter physics, she studies the coldest states of matter in the Universe, emergent behaviour, out-of-equilibrium dynamics, and more.  In her research, she forges connections with quantum information science, biophysics, cosmology, and space explorations. Her recognitions include fellowships of the National Science Foundation’s American Competitiveness and Innovations program, the Simons Foundation, and the American Physical Society (APS).  She has chaired the APS Division of Condensed Matter Physics, the society’s largest division, and one of its annual March Meetings attended by over 10,000 participants. She is serving on the global steering committee for the United Nations-proclaimed 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and is a Public Voices Fellow with the Op-Ed Project. 

 

Vishveshwara collaboratively synergizes the sciences and the arts and has co-founded the initiative CASCaDe (Collective for Art-Science, Creativity and Discovery, etc). Her physics-art works include the theater piece Quantum Voyages, the circus performance Cosmic Tumbles, Quantum Leaps, and the short film, Solaria. She has developed and regularly offers a project-based course, Where the Arts Meets Physics.  She recently published a popular physics book with her late black hole-physicist father, Two Revolutions: Einstein’s Relativity and Quantum Physics; A Dialogue Between Father and Daughter. 

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  • Organization
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Profession
    Professor of Physics
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