Science dean simplifies quantum mechanics
Visiting Executive Dean of Science of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Port Elizabeth, Prof Azwinndini Muronga, delivered a lecture at the NMU George Campus on Friday 8 August. The hour-long lecture was titled "Touring the quantum world - the disturbing theory at the heart of reality."
Quantum mechanics or quantum theory refers to the scientific laws of physics used to explain the behaviour of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic level. "Every particle has a wave nature as well, but it is only truly evident when a particle is very light, such as an electron," he explained.
Quantum mechanics defy common sense, leaving many questions among scientists since its discovery in 1900 by Joseph John Thomson. Many other scientists such as Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Max Planck and Johannes Rydberg have since included contributions to the theory, said Muronga.
Muronga, a theoretical physicist, took up his position as NMU Executive Dean of Science in April 2016. He holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in physics from the University of Cape Town and a PhD in physics from the University of Minnesota, United States. He served as director of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Soweto Science Centre, was an associate professor at UJ and prior to that, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town. He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Frankfurt and at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Germany.
Two years ago he was elected president of the South African Institute of Physics (Saip). He told the audience a little about his background. "When I was growing up in the dark villages, the only beautiful things were the surrounding nature and the sky,"
As a young herd boy looking after goats and cattle, I fell in love with nature and started asking questions that were considered taboo by my community.
he said. "As a young herd boy looking after goats and cattle, I fell in love with nature and started asking questions that were considered taboo by my community."
He has collaborated with scientists working on large experimental facilities such as the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Switzerland.