13 Jan 2017

Five lectures will explore the most cutting-edge concepts in modern physics. The series will run for five weeks starting on Jan. 30.

WHAT
College of Science Lecture Series: 'Rethinking Reality'
WHEN
7 p.m. Mondays from Jan. 30 through March 6
WHERE
Centennial Hall, UA campus

The University of Arizona College of Science's spring lecture series, "Rethinking Reality," will include five lectures that explore the most cutting-edge concepts in modern physics.
Our established physical laws describe a world that is sometimes at odds with our perceptions of it. To attempt to reconcile the bizarre domain of quantum mechanics with the cosmic vastness of relativity, scientists must increasingly rely on new ways of thinking, seeing and experimenting to probe the principles that underlie everything.

"I am thrilled to bring this lecture series to our community," says Joaquin Ruiz, vice president for innovation and dean of the UA College of Science. "Last year was an incredible year for discoveries of our physical universe. I hope you will join me in rethinking reality with our amazing speakers."
The free lectures will be at 7 p.m. on Mondays starting Jan. 30 at Centennial Hall on the UA campus. Parking is available for a fee in the Tyndall Avenue Garage, 880 E. Fourth St.

Each lecture will be streamed live by Arizona Public Media On Demand and will air on AZPM on Mondays after a one-week delay. The lectures also will be available on iTunes U as a podcast one to two weeks after the lecture date.
Tucson Electric Power, Ventana Medical Systems and Cox Communications are presenting sponsors of the 2017 series. Additional funding is provided by the Arizona Daily Star, Galileo Circle, Godat Design, Holualoa Companies, Marshall Foundation, Nguyen & Tarbet Patent Law, Raytheon, Research Corporation for Science Advancement and Vantage West Credit Union.

The lecture series lineup is as follows:
Jan. 30
"Rethinking the Rules of Reality"
Keith R. Dienes, program director/physics, National Science Foundation, and UA professor of physics

Feb. 6
"The Journey to the Extreme"
Feryal Ozel, UA professor of astronomy and physics

Feb. 13
"Space, Time and Gravity"
Sam Gralla, UA assistant professor of physics

Feb. 27
"A Myriad of Particles"
Elliott Cheu, interim dean, Honors College, and UA Distinguished Professor of Physics

March 6
"Domesticating the Quantum"
Pierre Meystre, Regents' Professor Emeritus of Physics and editor-in-chief, American Physical Society