Retiring Prof Neville Fletcher (EME)

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol43 Issue11 3–7 April 2017

Ode to String Theory

Modern Physics based on strings
Can model all existing things
And put each one into its place
In twenty-four dimensioned space.

But does this any insight give
About the world in which we live?
Or does it simply give a reason
For theorists’ annual travel season?

How nice it is to have a theory
Whose outputs do not make you weary
For if predictions don’t fit data
You just add more dimensions later.

Perhaps I’ll give up condensed matter
And all our present Physics chatter
And look for strings up in the sky –
If they can see them, why not I.

Neville Fletcher 2016