18 September 2008

'Our Implausible Universe' - The Dundee Christmas Lecture 2008

Cosmology confronts some of the most fundamental questions in the whole of Science - how and when did our universe begin? What is it made of? How did it acquire its current appearance?

The Christmas Lecture 2008, presented by the University of Dundee and Dundee City Council, will see Professor Carlos Frenk, one of the world’s foremost thinkers in this area and an originator of the `cold dark matter’ theory, explore current thinking and point to some of the possible answers.

There has been enormous progress in the past few years towards answering these questions. For example, recent observations have established that our universe contains an unexpected mix of components that include not only ordinary atoms, but also exotic dark matter and a new form of energy called dark energy.

Gigantic surveys of galaxies tell us how the universe is structured. Large supercomputer simulations recreate the evolution of the universe and provide the means to relate processes occuring near the beginning of the Universe with the structures seen today.

The recent switch-on of the CERN collider in Switzerland may provide even more insights.

A coherent picture of cosmic evolution, going back to first instants after the Big Bang, is beginning to emerge. However, fundamental mysteries, like the nature of dark energy, remain unresolved.

Professor Frenk, of the Institute for Computational Cosmology at the University of Durham, is one of the originators of the "Cold dark matter" theory for the origin of galaxies and other cosmic structures. He and his research group carry out large cosmological simulations of the Universe using the 'Cosmology Machine' at Durham, one of the largest supercomputers in the UK.

The Dundee Christmas Lecture was inaugurated last year to mark the University’s 40th anniversary, and is jointly hosted by the University and the City Council.

Lord Provost John Letford said, 'Dundee is well known as a city of science and learning. It is inspiring to see how Dundee University is inviting the general public to share in the quest for understanding about some very intriguing questions.'

Last year’s debut lecture was delivered by Professor Steve Jones, with hundreds of people filling the auditorium to hear his lecture 'Why evolution is right and creationism is wrong...'

This year’s lecture takes place on Saturday December 6th, at 6 pm, in the Dalhouse Building, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee.

Admission is free and tickets and information are available from the Events Office at the University - e-mail events@dundee.ac.uk or tel 01382 388046.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Carlos Frenk is the Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics and Director of the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University.

Carlos has written over 200 scientific papers in refereed journals and has edited two books. He is one of the top ten most cited authors in the world in the scientific literature on Space Sciences and Astronomy over the past decade. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2004.

Carlos has also played an active role in the dissemination of astronomy and cosmology. He helped set up an outreach programme in Cosmology and Particle Physics at the Ogden Centre in Durham. He has given many public lectures and, in addition to radio interviews, he has appeared on numerous TV programmes, from Sky at Night to Horizon and Newsnight.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk