The Hidden Science Behind Artistic Expression
Physicist David Smith
DR. DAVID SMITH, SENIOR LECTURER, USU DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Date
FRIDAY, September 18, 2026
7 p.m. Eccles Science Learning Center,
Emert Auditorium, Room ESLC 130
Hands-on learning activities, along with refreshments, follow the talk in the Eccles Science Learning Center atrium.
Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Directions and Parking Information
Talk Description
The world is filled with moments that make us stop and wonder—a beautiful piece of music, the colors of a rainbow, the shimmering surface of a soap bubble, or the rich sound of a musical instrument. Although these experiences seem completely different, they are connected in remarkable ways.
Join physicist David Smith for a lively, demonstration-filled exploration of the surprising physics behind many of the beautiful sights and sounds we encounter every day. Through live experiments and audience participation, we'll discover how simple physical principles connect music, light, color, and artistic expression in unexpected ways.
Art and science are often viewed as separate pursuits, but they are better understood as complementary ways of exploring the same world. Art invites us to experience beauty, creativity, and emotion, while science reveals the elegant patterns and relationships that lie beneath them. Together, they deepen our appreciation for both nature and human expression.
Whether your interests lie in art, music, science—or simply in understanding the world a little better—you'll leave seeing familiar experiences in an entirely new light.