Science in the community
May we all become the people who inspired us as kids.
I believe that scientists, alongside conducting cutting-edge research, have a responsibility to communicate with the general public. I regularly give public talks at After5 Society, sharing ideas from physics and making research accessible to a wider audience.
Physics beyond the classroom
Big questions about the universe, explored through everyday examples and conversation in Houston.
Patterson Park Patio Bar · Houston, Texas
I explored why everyday life has a direction in time: why a shattered glass does not put itself back together, and why we remember the past rather than the future. The discussion connected entropy and the second law of thermodynamics to the universe’s initial conditions, and considered what physics says about time travel.
The Library · Houston, Texas
I introduced the idea that fields fill space and particles are excitations of those fields. Through an intuitive discussion, we explored how this picture describes matter and forces, and how it changes the way we think about the universe’s fundamental ingredients.
Making room for curiosity
I advocate for women’s rights and representation in STEM. Through the Women in Physics Society, I help bring people together to discuss barriers, share experiences, and create opportunities for women in science.
Women in Physics Society
As part of the Houston organizing committee, I helped bring Pint of Science back to the United States after the pandemic. The festival brings researchers into pubs, cafés, and other public spaces to share their work and answer questions.
Pint of Science Houston
I co-founded Beyond Portals to make fundamental science more accessible and support underrepresented communities in STEM. Through public talks, workshops, and seminars, we create spaces to learn, exchange ideas, and explore careers in science.
To invite me for a public talk, contact physics@prachigarella.com.
You can also explore more science conversations through The Knowmads Podcast and my social media.