The new science of Astrobiology and the search for life in the Universe, and 30 years of the Hubble Space Telescope
Events which took place in 2020:
Friday 6th MarchÌýin the Chemistry Auditorium, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ - in collaboration with theÌýScience Centre Lectures (see details here).
The new science of Astrobiology and the Search for Life in the Universe - Professor Ian Crawford, Birkbeck, University of London, andÌýThe Centre for Planetary Sciencea at °×С½ãÂÛ̳/Birkbeck.
Saturday 7th March, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ÌýCloisters: Exhibits, including telescope demonstrations and Life on Mars
For centuries we have looked to Mars and wondered Is there life on the red planet. This summer we are sending two new rovers to Mars to find the answer to this big question. Scientists and engineers at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ haveÌýeven produced aÌýspecial camera being used in the search for life.
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is one of the most successful scientific instruments in history. Its legacy embraces all aspects of space science, from the solar system and extra-solar planets, to the very first stars and galaxies. At the same time, itÌý produces striking images with deep influence in the public perception of the Universe.
The session was chaired by: Dr Antonia Bevan, astrophysicist at °×С½ãÂÛ̳
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The panelists were:
ÌýHubble: from dream to reality
Riley is a BAFTA, RTS & Grierson nominated filmmaker and science writer. He produced the Sundance Award winning Ron Howard film 'In the Shadow of the Moon' and directed the hit YouTube documentary recreation of Yuri Gagarin's pioneering space flight 'First Orbit'.Ìý He is a writer and director on the Patrick Stewart PBS seriesÌý 'Breakthroughs'Ìýand the multi-award winning National Geographic Will Smith / Darren Aronofsky series 'One Strange Rock'. He produced and directed the Emmy nominatedÌý, narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson and isÌýVisiting Professor of Science and the Media at the University of Lincoln.
Prof Richard Ellis, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ÌýCosmic Dawn: Hubble’s Quest for the Earliest Galaxies
The motivation is fundamental: the origin of starlight begins the process of chemical evolution which ultimately leads to our own existence in this remarkable Universe.
RichardÌýEllis is Professor of Astrophysics at °×С½ãÂÛ̳.
AfterÌýobtaining his Ph.D. atÌýOxford University,Ìýhe established a major astronomyÌýgroup at Durham University and later became the Director of the InstituteÌýof Astronomy at Cambridge University. In 1999 he emigrated to the California InstituteÌýof Technology where he was Director of the PalomarÌýObservatory.
Ellis’ researchÌýinterests spanÌýthe distribution of dark matter, the history of the cosmicÌýexpansion and studies of the first galaxies seen when the Universe was lessÌýthan 5% of its present age. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Australian Academy of Sciences.
Dr Stephen Feeney, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ÌýHubble trouble: A hidden mystery in the expansion of the Universe
Dr Stephen Feeney is a Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at °×С½ãÂÛ̳. Prior to this he was a Flatiron Research Fellow at the Center for Computational Astrophysics in New York and a postdoctoral researcher in the Astrophysics Group at Imperial College London, after having gained his PhD at °×С½ãÂÛ̳. His research interests include observational cosmology, the cosmic microwave background, early-universe physics and astro-statistics.
Prof Jay Farihi, (°×С½ãÂÛ̳)ÌýHubble's Ultraviolet Vision Reveals Rocky Planet Pieces
Prof Jay Farihi is a faculty member in the Astrophysics group at °×С½ãÂÛ̳, an STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow, and previously a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. He did his doctoral research in California where he is a native, and post-doctoral work on the big island of Hawaii where he is a frequent visitor to the telescopes. In his spare time he is a connoisseur of whisky, and avid reader and music lover, and travels as often as possible.
Affelia WibisonoÌý, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ÌýSpace observations of auroral displays on Jupiter
Here on Earth, the sky over Canada, Norway and Iceland (and on rare occasions the UK) glow beautiful reds and greens as solar radiation rain into our atmosphere. However, Earth’s aurorae pale in comparison with those of Jupiter, which burst and crackle dynamically with bright and violent flares energetic enough to power all of human civilization. Affelia showed spectacular videos of these aurorae and discussed how the combination of the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s Juno spacecraft (along with other flagship missions like the Chandra X-ray Observatory), are finally helping us to understand how planets produce these enigmatic and inspiring displays.
Affelia Wibisono is a PhD student at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, °×С½ãÂÛ̳, working on Jupiter's aurorae with observations from the Hubble SpaceTelescope, JUNO and XMM-Newton space missions.
Affelia is also an experienced science communicator and has worked in a number of science centres and museums.