Dr. Fay Dowker

Biography

Fay Dowker is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, specializing in Theoretical Physics. Her research focuses on uncovering the fundamental principles that govern the physical world, particularly through the lens of quantum gravity. Dowker investigates several dichotomies such as Atomicity versus Continuity, and Order versus Chaos, which play significant roles in her research. A persistent theme in her work is the relationship between these dichotomies and the attempt to create a unified theory of quantum gravity. She has contributed to the development of causal set theory as a method to approach the unification of physics, positing that space-time is not a smooth continuum but has a discretized structure. Dowker's public lectures and seminars engage with central questions in quantum gravity and explore the implications of causal sets. Furthermore, she considers the philosophical implications related to the notions of Objectivity versus Subjectivity in scientific inquiry, emphasizing that understanding the universe is inseparable from human experience. Her work continues to address these critical themes in modern physics and cosmology.

Research Interests