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PLANCKS Kent 2026 – Speakers

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PLANCKS Kent 2026
Speakers

Dr Molly Wells
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Lecture: 1
Date: Friday 20th February
Time: 17:30

ABSTRACT:

Following the Flow: How Material Forms Stars

Massive stars play a crucial role in shaping galaxies, yet how they form remains one of the major open questions in Astronomy. In this talk, I will begin by sharing my own journey into research, starting as an undergraduate (at the University of Kent!) and continuing through completing my PhD and what I’m up to now. We will then discuss the basic ideas behind star formation and why high-mass stars are some of the most fascinating—and challenging—objects to study in the universe. The second part of the talk will focus specifically on my research, which investigates how material flows from large cloud scales down onto the central sites where massive stars are born. Using observations that trace gas motion at many different spatial scales, I study the relationships between the flow of material and other key parameters, such as environment and initial mass. This talk is intended as an accessible introduction to both a career in astrophysics research and to the fascinating process of massive star formation.

BIO:

Dr. Molly Wells is a postdoctoral researcher in Astronomy currently based in Heidelberg, Germany. They completed their undergraduate degree at the University of Kent, where they first discovered their interest in research—making this visit a full-circle moment. After Kent, they moved to Heidelberg to pursue a PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, focusing on high-mass star formation. They completed their PhD in July 2025 and are currently continuing this work, studying how material flows onto the sites of forming massive stars across a wide range of spatial scales. In addition to their research, Molly is deeply committed to improving equality and representation in Astronomy. They have been actively involved in initiatives supporting women in STEM and broader efforts to promote inclusion and equity within academia. They are passionate about making Astronomy a more accessible and welcoming field for the next generation of women scientists.

Dr Mike Hughes
University of Kent

Lecture: 2
Date: Saturday 21st February
Time: 09:30

ABSTRACT:

While the development of optical fibre technology has been driven by the telecommunications industry, fibre optics also plays a crucial role in medical imaging. Optical fibres allow us to create thin, flexible imaging devices that can be used to probe deep inside otherwise inaccessible environments, such as the human body. This talk will explore some recent advances in imaging through fibres, focusing on the physics and engineering that makes these techniques possible, and highlighting some of the research in this area at the University of Kent. This will include image transmission through multimode fibres, which involves encoding image information in the fibre modes, as well as through fibres bundle. We will also look at how coherent imaging modalities such as holographic microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be performed via optical fibres.

BIO:

Dr Mike Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Optics (Physics) at the University of Kent, where his research focuses on developing thin, flexible, endoscopic and needle-based imaging systems. He completed an MSci in physics at Durham University before moving to Kent for his PhD, a joint project with the British Museum, the National Gallery and NTU, developing applications of optical coherence tomography in art conservation and archaeology. He then spent two years at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, completing the IPEM Part 1 training programme in medical physics. Returning to academia in 2011 he took up the position of Research Associate in Biophotonics at the Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College London, where he developed high-resolution imaging systems for applications in surgery. He moved to the University of Kent in 2017, where he now works on a range of optical imaging technologies, including endoscopic microscopy, holographic microscopy and optical coherence tomography.

Dr Jorge Quintanilla
University of Kent

Lecture: 3
Date: Sunday 22nd February
Time: 11:00

ABSTRACT:

Winning with Qubits

Many real-life situations can be regarded as attempting to win a game through teamwork. But what if the team members cannot communicate? Perhaps Alice and Bob are underground or they are keeping radio silence to stay hidden from an enemy. Can they use what Einstein termed “spooky action at a distance” to maintain their coordination without sending signals? Or would that be tantamount to cheating the laws of physics? In our emerging world of long-lived qubits and quantum processors, these questions are not merely academic – they are important for everything from logistics to national defence. I will try to answer them.

BIO:

Jorge Quintanilla is a quantum physicist who has contributed to our understanding of superconductors, quantum magnets and ultra-cold gases. His current research focus is finding novel applications of emerging quantum technologies, including quantum computers. Jorge got his education in Salamanca (Spain) and Bristol (UK). He held research positions and fellowships at Sao Paulo (Brazil), Birmingham (UK), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK), and St Catherine’s College, Oxford (UK) before joining the University of Kent as a Lecturer in 2010. He is now a Reader. When he is not doing ​Physics or spending time with his family, Jorge likes to make experimental music using analogue synthesizers.

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