Astrophysics, Cosmology and Einstein's General Relativity

The Faculty of Science at Victoria University of Wellington invites you to a two-part public lecture to be presented by Professor Matt Visser from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Operations Research and Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt from the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

• Exploring Astrophysics in the Radio Renaissance.
Melanie Johnston-Hollitt will give an overview of New Zealand’s involvement in the Australasian bid to host the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, which will be 100 times more powerful than present day instruments and which will give astronomers insights into the formation of the early universe.

• Cosmology and Einstein’s General Relativity
Modern models of cosmology, the ‘big bang’ and related ideas are firmly based on Einstein’s general relativity—the same theory that predicts black holes. Matt Visser, FRSNZ and Fellow of the American Physical Society, will give a broad overview of the observational situation, indicating which bits of the model are rock solid, and where there might be any potential ‘wiggle room’.

Email rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with ‘Universe’ in the subject line (acceptances only) or contact the Victoria University Information Desk on 04-463 5810 to register your attendance by Wednesday 14 April.

There is no charge for this lecture.

Event listed by weivi

View their other events or contact promoter