A talk by Professor John Goodby, Fellow of the Royal Society & Dr Stephen Cowling, Kingston Chemicals Ltd (Hull) & Department of Chemistry, University of York.

Do you remember the old fashioned TVs packed with glowing and often faltering valves? In 1972 their path to obsolescence began with the invention of solid-state devices, and the realisation that the UK spent more money licensing cathode-ray technology for Radar from the USA than we did on the development of Concorde. An invention in Yorkshire proved to be crucial; underpinning the creation of the digital watch and even today’s “smart” flat screen TVs. On this technological journey other achievements in areas of plastic thermometers, telecommunication switches, video projectors, KevlarTM, and social media gave us new applications for the modern world. So where to now? We are on the threshold of virtual, augmented and mixed reality devices that could end our love with the mobile ‘phone within the next few years..

The invention? “Stable room temperature liquid crystals.” In this lecture, with the aid of demonstrations, we will introduce you to the magical world of liquid crystals. They are neither solid nor liquid, but a unique fourth and responsive state of matter.

Einstein once commented, “If at first an idea does not seem absurd, then there is no hope for it”. Today there are more liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in the world than there are people!

The event is open to the general public.