Astronomy prof tries to demystify the universe
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Richard Payson | The Daily Utah ChronicleKyle Dawson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy discusses how the universe will be changing in a Science Night Live Lecture. The Science Night Live lecture was held at Keys On Main Wednesday night.
A U astronomy professor helped people understand how big our universe really is.
Kyle Dawson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, gave a lecture on the changing universe. During the lecture Wednesday evening, he hoped the audience would better understand cosmology and have a grasp of the sheer size and number of galaxies involved in it.
In his lecture at Keys on Main, Dawson explained the two main theories of universe expansion: the collapse theory, in which the universe potentially falls in on itself, and the expansion theory, where the universe will reach the maximum space and stop expanding.
Dawson said that, before the lecture, he received a call from someone fascinated by the subject but said the caller was upset that the lecture was being held in a bar.
“I really love talking to this type of audience,” Dawson said. “As long as they can hear me, I don’t really care what type of setting it is in.”
Lauren Roth, a senior in biology and environmental studies said she came to the lecture with some friends.
“I prefer the more laid back and less formal setting. It demystifies the science in a way,” she said.
Several U astronomers, including Dawson, recently joined the Sloan Digital
Sky Survey and are researching more than 1.5 million galaxies to assist them in understanding dark matter. The study involves using galaxies to map out dark matter or dark energy in the space between each galaxy.
Mapping dark matter also helps to explain how big the universe really is.
The survey received a three-year extension on their ongoing study and hope to discover more about the universe through their observations.
Short URL: http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/?p=2564212
Posted by Rachel Jackson
on Jan 26 2012. Filed under Community, News, Slider.
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I’m a city dweller with an arts background but have always appreciated the sciences. I really like going to lectures at Keys on Main. Besides the mental stimulation, it doesn’t hurt that there are Buffalo wings and tequila. As I see it, the point of the Keys lecture series is for the Science dept. to connect with and educate the Salt Lake community beyond the campus. It’s doing a good job.
I doubt that Prof Dawson is trying to “Demystify the Universe.” The Mysteries are just like the Turtles: It’s Mysteries all the way down!
Why at Keys? Why not the Skaggs Biology building that allows in people under 21? Discrimination by age?
I think once every couple of months every professor should give a lecture at a bar on his or her area of specialty.
… which means what, exactly? Does knowing exactly how my house was constructed mean that the person who built it doesn’t exist? The true fool is the one who denies the mind that God gave us.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.