| Description | The 2007 Bakerian Lecture was given by Professor Joseph Silk FRS, University of Oxford, on 22 March at 6.30pm on "The dark side of the Universe"
The emergence of cosmic structure is an outcome that has been studied by peering back through the mists of time to the remote depths of the universe as well as by deciphering the fossil structure of nearby galaxies. One of the greatest mysteries in the cosmos is that it is mostly dark. That is, not only is the observed night sky dark, but also most of the matter in the universe whose existence is directly inferred from the observations is dark. For every atom visible in planets, stars and galaxies today there exists at least five or six times as much ``Dark Matter'' in the universe. Astronomers today are seeking to unravel the nature of this mysterious, but pervasive Dark Matter, and determine whether it can be detected. Nor does the mystery rest only with dark matter, as there is also a dark force, dubbed ``Dark Energy'' and originally postulated by Einstein in the form of the cosmological constant, that is systematically accelerating the universe. Indeed, Dark Energy accounts for two-thirds of the mass-energy density of the Universe, and understanding its origin and nature presents one of the greatest challenges in physics. Joseph Silk will review the status of ongoing searches for the dark components of the universe.
Tales of maths and science; a career in science communication. By Johnny Ball, broadcaster and writer. Public Lecture given at the Royal Society on 1 May 2007
Johnny Ball has spent much of his career communicating ideas in science and maths. From penning and presenting award-winning television series to writing science based educational musicals. In his current role as an Ambassador for British Engineering, he lectures widely to schools and colleges, urging career paths towards maths, science, engineering and technology.
In his talk, Johnny will discuss tales of heroic scientific characters he has featured over the years and how he makes their achievements still relevant to present day students and situations. He'll then round off with some personal views of how we might ensure we send the right messages to encourage ever more bright young minds towards careers in maths and science. |