Professor Jim Al-Khalili – Favourite Things
Professor Jim Al-Khalili CBE FRS is a theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey, where he holds a Distinguished Chair in physics as well as a university chair in the public engagement in science. A self-described “public scientist”, he is the author of 14 books on popular science and the history of science and has presented numerous TV documentaries and radio programmes, mostly for the BBC. He hosts the BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific, and received an OBE in 2007 and a CBE in 2021 for services to science.
These are a few of Professor Jim Al-Khalili’s favourite things…
Quantum Mechanics
Let’s get this one out of the way first. There’s a famous saying among physicists that goes: if you’re not astonished by quantum mechanics, then you haven’t understood it. Well, after 40 years of study, I’m still in love with the subject, and I’m still astonished and baffled by it. Quantum mechanics is the theory that describes the behaviour of the subatomic world and is arguably the most important and powerful theory in all of science because without it, we would not have developed the modern world (no computers, no internet, iPhones, Zoom meetings or Netflix). Now, you might say that would be a good thing, but then I would counter with: don’t be ridiculous! Anyway, what’s not to love about an equation that tells us atoms can be in two places at once or that cats in boxes can be dead and alive at the same time?
Chocolate
I enjoy going to the cinema every few weeks, but if I’m honest, the trip is as much about the chocolate as it is about the movie. Weirdly, I’m not a fan of plain chocolate, which I find too bitter for my liking. My tastes are far less refined than that. My go-to chocolate bar is Dairy Milk, but I have been known to get through one of those large bags of Revels at the cinema, usually in the first fifteen minutes of a film. Before you judge me too harshly, however, I still try to maintain that my body is a temple, so I try to ration my chocolates by not being naughty during the week. But come Friday evening… the wrappers are off.
The South Downs
My wife Julie and I love walking in the country — nothing too strenuous, but a circular route of 8-10 miles is just about right. We live on the south coast of Hampshire in Southsea, so we have a lovely promenade, but it’s just a short drive north into the South Downs. Our favourite area for a walk is around the Meon valley in central Hampshire. It’s so peaceful and picturesque, and I’m always surprised at how few people we encounter on our walks — just the odd dog-walker or cyclist. While it may not compare with, say, the Lake District for spectacular vistas, the Meon Valley is every bit as beautiful as the Cotswolds. Each walk will involve a few hills, woods, pretty villages and plenty of stiles. And needless to say, each one ends with a pub for the obligatory beer or cider (and possibly ham, egg and chips if we feel we’ve burnt off enough calories).
My MacBook Pro
I am a slave to my Apple products. While I make plenty of use of my iPhone and iPad, it’s my MacBook Pro laptop that has my life on it. Well, I say “life”, I really mean work, but then my science is my life, and so my MacBook accompanies me almost everywhere. I spend far too much time on trains for my work, commuting from Southsea to Guildford, where my office at the University of Surrey is, but also a little further up to the London for my BBC work. I also travel around the country giving talks or meeting with other scientists for my research. And as soon as I get on a train, I open my laptop and, hopefully, connect to the WIFI. In fact, that is exactly what I am doing right now as I write this: on the Portsmouth to Waterloo train, tapping away on my lovely Mac.
Leeds United
Even sadder than loving quantum mechanics or my laptop, I am a life-long fan of Leeds. I started supporting them with my brother when we were kids, and Leeds was the top team in the country. If you know anything about football and are old enough, then you will know of Billy Bremner, Eddie Gray, Jonny Giles, Norman Bites-Your-Legs Hunter and the rest of that early 1970s team. Well, apart from a few more recent moments of glory, it’s been downhill ever since. I now have my son, David, supporting them too (having made sure I “accidentally” dropped and broke the Manchester United mug someone foolishly bought for him when he was very young). David and I make our annual pilgrimage to Elland Road every season, and even though I’ve never lived in Leeds or Yorkshire, I feel as I step off the train that I’ve come home. Quite pathetic really.
Enjoyed Professor Jim Al-Khalili’s favourites? Explore last week’s Favourite Things here.