Let’s consider several levels of human interaction and how physics can be connected. First is one-to-one connections between people. Think about how touching another person can convey, in the right circumstances, a sense of comfort. From a gentle pat on the shoulder to a firm handshake, touch mediates bonding between humans. Now think about people whose circumstances deprive them of touch: people isolated because of immune disorders, burns, or disease quarantine, preterm babies or newborn infants orphaned from their mothers, and perhaps people in other situations. Since touch is a physical interaction, can there be physical surrogates – such as infrared heating or air pulsations – that can restore some of the benefits of touch? How else might the benefits of physical comforting be brought across to people in these situations?
Now think about humans interacting in small groups, from families to groups of friends to small physics departments. How are physical situations or effects used to explore and perhaps improve the function of human groups? In the 18thCentury, physics demonstrations were the attraction of social gatherings of aristocrats: is there a viable modern counterpart for adults? (Taking physics demos to school classrooms is already a well-established practice.) Does physics offer insight into the use of obstacle courses, escape rooms, or other physical environments to foster constructive interaction? How can physical intervention or physical devices help when groups are subjected to the stress of extreme environments or extreme situations?
At a somewhat larger scale, think about neighborhoods and local communities. How can physicists help organize technical information for community decision making about issues such as water supply, wildfire mitigation, etc.? How can physics and its devices be used to help communities identify and care for community members in need? Can a library of physical technologies such as measuring instruments – along with the knowledge to use them – be useful shared resources?
Now consider crowds of people. A field called “social physics” uses physical and mathematical modeling to understand crowd behavior, voting trends, buying choices, etc. In what other ways can physics be used in situations involving crowds, such as dangerous situations of panic or stampedes or more pleasant situations such as fans cheering for sports teams? Can physicists who study swarming, schooling, and flocking in other living organisms apply their models and insights to collective behavior in human crowds, such as the clapping, dancing, or marching?
In the end, perhaps the main idea is to do something positive – anything– that uses physics to engage people socially towards a positive aim. This gives people hope and a sense of efficacy that can extend well beyond any specific elements of physics.
Physics as an opportunity for social interaction
Physics activities for families
Local community science centers
Physics discussion groups at libraries,
bookstores, cafés, etc.
Citizen science doing physics
Engaging retired scientists & engineers in
support of community science centers
Shared physics learning resources
Physics as a resource for neighborhoods and
communities
Providing technical information for community
decision making, e.g. water supply
Providing physical insight into matters of
community interest, e.g. microclimates,
local geology, building structures, etc.
Providing shared technical resources
(measuring instruments, special tools, etc.)
Fostering community co-invention to solve local
problems or meet local needs
Creating unique architectural designs for community buildings and spaces
Physical elements that foster wonder and
curiosity
Physical elements that encourage interaction
(e.g. responsive water fountains)
Physical elements that help with inclusiveness
Community historical centers, archives & artifacts
Restoration
Interconverting physical items and digital
representations
Maintaining and explaining artifacts significant
to a community’s culture
Promoting community resilience
Modeling community hazards
Facilitating communication and response in
emergencies, natural disasters, etc.
Helping communities anticipate long-term
effects,
e.g. global warming
Physics applied to social service & community care
Identifying and staying in contact with people
in need
Systems to call for help, hotlines
Helping people in adverse situations,
e.g. heat waves
Childcare & Eldercare
Care for people with physical or mental
disabilities
Helping people who are socially awkward
or isolated
Physical foundations & modeling of human interaction
Neurology and physiology of human interaction
Touch
Attraction
Mutual awareness and empathy
Social physics modeling group and crowd behavior
Network models
Collective phenomena in voting, buying,...
Helping one-to-one and family interaction
Mothers & infants
Telepresence with distant loved ones
Maintaining interaction with loved ones who
must be isolated, e.g. for health reasons
Physical elements to use daily routines as
opportunities for family engagement
Friends
Engaging with physical challenges
(escape rooms, obstacle courses / parkour,
orienteering, etc.)
Novel methods for communication and location
in group outings
Technical support of “buddy systems” that
provide mutual encouragement & safety
Student communities
Study groups, learning communities, cohorts,
journal clubs, project teams
Dorm life
Student organizations
Professional communities
Facilitating collaboration
Professional societies
Special interest groups
Amateur communities
Clubs
Craft guilds
Gamers
Social events
Parties
Festivals & celebrations
e.g. sound & light shows
Parades
animated parade floats
Preventing or mitigating harmful community behavior
Discrimination, persecution, shaming, ostracism,
suspicion, xenophobia, etc.
Cliques
Gangs
Social interaction of humans & non-humans
Pets
Farm animals
Wildlife in urban-wildland interface; in urban,
regional & national parks
Animal communities and social behavior as
models for study
Robot swarms