Physics Talk: From Dracula's Castle to Quantum Frontiers

We’re kicking off the semester’s talk series with a truly special guest: Dr Cătălina Curceanu — a leading nuclear and quantum physicist from Italy’s INFN National Laboratory. 🌍⚛️ Her talk, From Dracula’s Castle to Quantum Frontiers, traces her incredible journey from growing up under dictatorship in Transylvania to becoming one of Europe’s most active voices in experimental physics — and a fierce mentor to young scientists worldwide. From underground experiments and exotic atoms to the mind-bending world of quantum mechanics, Dr Curceanu’s work is as impressive as it is inspiring. But beyond the science, she brings the human side of discovery: resilience, wonder, and connection. ✨ Open to all students — not just women — this talk is about sparking curiosity and showing what’s possible. Stick around after for 15 minutes of casual networking with the speaker and fellow students!