Perimeter is a trusted voice in science, and that role is now more important than ever. The Institute is a powerful advocate for the value of scientific education and literacy and for the scientific process as humanity’s best tool for overcoming challenges. Through its informative and engaging outreach and science communications for the general public, Perimeter helps both Canadian and global audiences understand the role the Institute plays in cutting-edge theoretical physics research and the potential of science to transform society. Perimeter’s engagement with the general public includes a celebrated public lecture series as well as engagement with the wider public through written and visual media in the form of articles on the Perimeter website and videos through the Perimeter social media channels (YouTube and Instagram). Perimeter is also exploring new methods to engage with wider audiences such as YouTube shorts and Instagram Reels, which have engaged new audiences with Perimeter-created science content. Through Perimeter’s various media channels, it shares the joy of discovery and the buzz of activity, both within the building and across the Canadian physics landscape, with researchers and the public alike.
Engagement with Perimeter’s channels continues to be high. The Perimeter Institute website8 racked up more than 850,000 views from over 330,000 unique visitors in 2024/25. Interest in Perimeter’s social media posts continues to grow, with increased activity on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Across all platforms, the Institute’s followers grew by 51 percent.
Perimeter Institute released 25 YouTube videos in 2024/25, including Explorer profiles of featured PI faculty and researchers, recordings of public lectures, and the conclusion to the popular series Cosmology 101 with Katie Mack, Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication at Perimeter. These videos received a total of 5.5 million views over the reporting year.
Perimeter’s Instagram profile saw increased activity, with the new focus on short-form videos (Reels) to reach a broader audience, featuring researcher stories, event recaps, and approachable scientific explanations. Perimeter produced 8 in-house-made Instagram Reels, covering topics such as Can we journey through a black hole?, explaining the mysteries of spacetime and wormholes, and Why do things glow?, a discussion of the quantum phenomena of fluorescence. The posts garnered over 30 million views and 63,000 interactions from platform users in the form of likes, comments, and shares. The Institute's Instagram profile saw a 205 percent increase in followers compared to the previous year.
Public Lectures & Perimeter Presents
Perimeter’s popular Public Lecture and Perimeter Presents series carried on this year, hosting four events over the reporting period. The Institute hosted captivating researchers and specialists to present their research and ideas in a digestible format for the general public in the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Theatre of Ideas. In total, this year’s public lectures were attended by more than 800 local attendees.
This year’s public lectures:
- Claudia de Rham, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London and former Emmy Noether Fellow, shared an in-depth conversation with Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC’s Ideas, followed by an audience Q&A. Through personal stories and scientific insights, de Rham shares her lifelong fascination with gravity and the relentless pursuit to uncover its secrets: “Unlocking the Invisible | Claudia de Rham's Quest to Understand Gravity” [Lecture held on Aug. 20, 2024].
- Carlo Rovelli, Distinguished Visiting Research Chair, world-renowned physicist, and best-selling author, took attendees on a journey inside a black hole – exploring time dilation, the warping of space, and the potential for black holes to transform into white holes: “Come With Me Inside a Black Hole | Carlo Rovelli Public Lecture” [Lecture held on Feb. 5, 2025].
- Read more about Carlo Rovelli and his fascinating research here: Carlo Rovelli’s quest for clarity in physics and beyond
- Patchen Barss, a Toronto-based science journalist, had an engaging conversation with PI’s Emily Petroff about his new book The Impossible Man: Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius, which delves into the life and science of esteemed physicist Roger Penrose. The conversation explored the sources of scientific inspiration, paths to creativity, and creation of new ideas that continue to revolutionize our understanding and appreciation of physical reality as a part of the Perimeter Presents series: “Unexpected Simplicity with Patchen Barss” [Lecture held on Feb. 27, 2025].
- Shohini Ghose, award-winning physicist and author, took the audience on an inspiring journey through science and history to celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and impact of trailblazing women who shaped our understanding of space, time, and the very fabric of reality: “The Hidden Universe: Women Who Shaped Modern Physics” [Lecture held on Mar. 12, 2025].
All public lectures and Perimeter Presents events are streamed live on Perimeter Institute’s YouTube channel. This year’s events accumulated more than 2.3 million views in the 8-month 2024/25 reporting period, with Carlo Rovelli’s lecture alone accounting for 1.3 million views.
Other science communication highlights
New research from the University of Waterloo proves that 'kugelblitze' — black holes made entirely of light — cannot form, challenging a concept predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity. Credit: Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock
2024: The year in physics
From the solar eclipse to a map of our universe, 2024 was an eventful year in physics news stories from Perimeter and beyond. Researchers are evolving our understanding of long-established theories and accessing never-before-seen images of galaxies far, far away. They also did some serious problem solving, like figuring out how to successfully transport antimatter. Discover 17 physics stories that made headlines in 2024.
Perimeter researcher Alex May unpacks the quirky language of quantum information—where magic, oracles, and superposition shape the future of computing.
Learn the Lingo – Quantum Information
From qubits to magic to oracles, quantum information researchers use terms that would fit perfectly with a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Perimeter Research Faculty member Alex May explains common terminology used in quantum information to help quantum enthusiasts understand key concepts.
Credit: Tamara Evstafyeva @to_evstaf
A day in the life of a physicist
What might a day in the life of a physicist look like in pictures? Perimeter postdoctoral researcher and Vera Florence Cooper Rubin Fellow Tamara Evstafyeva commonly uses sketches to visualize concepts and to keep her thoughts organized. Evstafyeva produced a comic series that captures the highs and lows of physics research and the wonder of exploring the unknown. In the sequence of illustrations portraying ‘A day in the life of a physicist,’ Evstafyeva noted she hopes to remind science enthusiasts, early-career researchers, and students that it is normal to face challenges with research.
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