On the physics of superheroes: James Kakalios to deliver Carleton convocation
James Kakalios is a University of Minnesota professor who has gained international renown for his specialization in explaining the physics of superheroes. He has been reading comic books longer than he has been studying physics.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Could Superman actually jump over tall buildings?”, the chance to learn the answer is coming to Carleton! Superhero physics expert James Kakalios, Taylor Distinguished Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, will deliver Carleton’s convocation address on Friday, January 23 from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. His talk is titled, “The Physics of Superheroes Goes Hollywood.”
Due to his expertise in superhero physics, Kakalios has provided science consulting for the 2009 film Watchmen and the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man. He is also the author of four award-winning books, holds an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for a viral YouTube video on the science of Watchmen, and is a cherished professor.
A longtime comic enthusiast, Kakalios developed a freshman seminar at the University of Minnesota on the physics of superheroes as a way to motivate students to think about physics. Due to the enthusiasm of his students, Kakalios was encouraged to write a book on superhero physics, leading to the publication of his first book, The Physics of Superheroes (2005). Kakalios has also published The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics (2010), The Physics of Everyday Things (2017), and most recently, The Physics of Superheroes Goes Hollywood (2025).
When the Watchmen film crew reached out to the National Academy of Science for a physics expert to help with the development of the film, Kakalios was recommended, due in part to the success of his first book. Kakalios’s interest in superhero physics is contagious, and he has shared his knowledge in venues ranging from high schools to the 92nd St. YMCA; from MIT to San Diego ComicCon; from Fermilab to the Library of Congress.
Kakalios’s research interests include nanocrystalline and amorphous semiconductors and fluctuation phenomena in neurological systems. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and has served as the chair of the APS Committee on Informing the Public and the chair of the APS Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public. His efforts in science communication and public outreach have been recognized with the 2014 AAAS Public Engagement with Science Award, the American Institute of Physics’ 2016 Andrew Gemant Award, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Lincoln (U.K.) in 2017, and the American Association of Physics Teachers Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award in 2020.
This convocation will also be live streamed — please register in advance to receive information on how to attend via Zoom. Carleton convocations are free and open to the public. Find upcoming events and archived recordings (including in podcast form) on the convocations website. For more information, including disability accommodations, call 507-222-5461 or email nponder@carleton.edu.
After each convocation address, Carleton hosts a luncheon with the speaker. Convocation luncheon is held in the Alumni Guest House Meeting Room (unless otherwise noted) from noon to 1 p.m. and is generally limited to 30 people. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP on the convocations website.