Drexel’s Department of Physics hosted its annual Kaczmarczik Lecture and Science Fair on February 27. This year’s Kaczmarczik Lecture was the 24th installment of this signature College of Arts and Sciences event, and the first to feature a live jazz performance.  

Keynote speaker Dr. Stephon Alexander presented his lecture on “The Jazz of Physics,” exploring the interconnection between music and the evolution of astrophysics and quantum physics. 

Alexander’s talk was based on his critically acclaimed book, The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe, in which he uses jazz music to explain physics’ questions about the universe. 

As a teenager growing up in the Bronx in the 1980s, Alexander recalled, he was torn between pursuing a career in music or in science. “I thought that all the cool kids were the musicians, and all the nerds and geeks were the scientists.” It wasn’t until he was pursuing the path of a scientist — and playing in jazz clubs on the side — that he discovered that the birth of Western science actually started with music.  

The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras started to use mathematics to try to understand the universe and believed that the planets were playing in harmony, Alexander explained, before playing his saxophone to demonstrate this ancient theory of “music of the spheres,” which resulted in the intervals known in music theory as perfect fifths.  

“What Pythagoras discovered in trying to understand the motion of the planets was what we call our Western musical scale,” Alexander said. “The scale behind our music.” 

Over 600 students from local high schools attended the lecture, along with Drexel students, faculty and staff.  

Ahead of Dr. Alexander’s lecture, the high school students participated in an experiential Science Fair hosted by members of the Drexel Society of Physics Students and faculty and staff in the physics department. The fair featured exciting demonstrations and exhibits with engaging presentations that covered a wide range of scientific research topics. 

As a Professor of Physics at Brown University, Dr. Alexander specializes in cosmology, particle physics and quantum gravity. He also explores interconnections between music, physics, mathematics and technology though recordings, performance, teaching and public lectures. He is also the CEO and Founder of the non-profit Sound+Science, which aims to empower New York City youth and provide new career pathways into the world of STEM. 

For nearly 30 years, the Kaczmarczik Lecture has been a significant event at Drexel University. The lecture series was established in 1995 to honor Professor of Physics Paul Kaczmarczik. Kaczmarczik graduated from Drexel with a BS in physics in 1948 and began his career at Drexel in 1953, where he became a key player in building the physics department. The Kaczmarczik Lecture series consistently draws outstanding scientists who advance the forefront of physics research.  

Learn more about physics at Drexel University.