Overview

⏱️Schedule:  Doors 18:30 → Talk 19:00→ Q&A → Mingle

Quantum physics sounds abstract and distant – trapped atoms, strange probabilities, ultra-sensitive measurements. But what happens when you take those lab experiments and try to build real devices and companies from them? In this talk, quantum physicist Martin Cordier takes us inside the world of quantum sensing and shows how you can literally “weigh” gravity with falling atoms.

We’ll follow the journey from fundamental research to startup life: what it means to turn cutting-edge experiments into robust technology, who needs measurements this precise, and why tiny quantum effects can suddenly matter at the scale of cities, infrastructure, and the planet.

This session dives into how quantum sensing works, why it’s useful, and what changes when you leave the controlled environment of the lab and step into the messiness of the real world.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Journey into a quantum sensing startup – what it looks like to build quantum technologies in a company (Nomad Atomics), from lab bench to field tests.

• How do we measure gravity with atoms? – a clear explanation of atom interferometry and the real-world applications of quantum gravimetry.

• Where do I weigh the smallest? – what Earth’s gravity anomalies are, why they exist, and what they reveal about our planet (plus answers to questions you never thought to ask).

Expect an evening that makes quantum tech feel tangible, with stories from the field, simple explanations, and plenty of space for questions – no PhD required.

Speaker

Martin Cordier

Martin Cordier is a quantum physicist specialising in quantum optics and quantum technologies. His research and applied work focus on using atoms and light to build ultra-sensitive measurement devices, and on bringing these quantum sensing techniques out of the lab and into real-world applications.