The Imperfect Science of Perfect Decisions

This is a talk about lies. Not the harmful kind, but the useful kind. The lies that physicists tell when they treat planets as point masses. The lies behind every map you've ever seen. The lies your brain tells you constantly - mental shortcuts that trade perfect accuracy for speed and survival. We live in an age obsessed with precision. Yet every major breakthrough in human progress has been built on useful lies - on strategic wrongness. Discover the techniques scientists use that can help anyone make wiser choices when perfection is impossible.

Zahaan Bharmal

Zahaan Bharmal is an author and science communicator who makes complex ideas accessible and inspiring. He is an Opinion writer for The Guardian and his acclaimed debut book The Art of Physics shows how concepts from physics can transform how we think, decide and lead - reaching readers worldwide and earning praise from Alain de Botton, Thomas Erikson and Cal Newport. A former Government policy advisor and speechwriter, current Senior Director at Google and acclaimed author, Zahaan shares his unique perspective on the intersection of science and human decision-making.

A physics graduate from Oxford and Fulbright Scholar with an MBA from Stanford, Zahaan has spent his career bridging scientific thinking with real-world impact. He conceived and led YouTube Space Lab, the world's largest space-science competition, for which he was awarded NASA's Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Earlier in his career, Zahaan served as a UK Government policy adviser and speechwriter, crafting remarks for leaders including Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton - experience that honed his gift for persuasive storytelling. He is currently Senior Director at Google, where he has spent over seventeen years in roles including Strategy at Google DeepMind, Chief of Staff to the Chief Marketing Officer, and senior positions in marketing, communications and operations.

In keynotes and panels, Zahaan speaks in a personal capacity, empowering audiences to embrace curiosity, navigate uncertainty and apply scientific thinking to everyday challenges. He has spoken at venues including the Royal Institution, Hay Festival, Oxford University, NASA and TEDx, and is passionate about education access through Speakers for Schools. Whether speaking to students discovering physics for the first time or leaders wrestling with complex decisions, he brings rigour, warmth and actionable insight.

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