Podcast: Creative Bones S1, Ep 8 - John Bartholomew

Dr John Bartholomew is a Senior Lecturer in Quantum Science and Director of the Quantum Integration Laboratory at the University of Sydney. His team is engineering next generation technology for computing, communication and metrology using single atoms that absorb and emit light. Prior to joining the School of Physics at USYD he held research positions at Caltech, Chimie Paristech and the Australian National University where he did his PhD. John helped establish the Sydney Quantum Academy, and is currently the Deputy Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems.

The first time I met John, well actually… saw John, I was peaking around the church hall door, where myself and the other girls had heard that the two new ministers had moved into town with their three sons. I’d go on to call John a great friend through high school, uni and beyond, where I saw him succeed at literally everything he put his mind to. Whether he was the captain of the school or the hockey team, singing, playing music, working towards his PhD, or being a reliable and kind friend who was always the calmest person in the room.

John and I spoke about how a flexible concept like creativity helps him in his work with precise measurements and absolutes, as well as the role of flexibility in designing scientific experiments. I feel particularly spoilt to say I spent the morning shooting the breeze about atoms and lasers and quantum mechanics with my good friend Johnny B. As with all my guests, I started by asking him what he’d do with his days after winning $100M. Please enjoy my chat with John.