I’ll be speaking around Sydney and Canberra over the next few weeks, so come along and hear about all things astronomy and the universe!
Penrith Observatory – Saturday, 6 May
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Address: Western Sydney University, Penrith Campus, Great Western Highway, Werrington North. Instructions here. Map.
Cost: $18.00 Adult, $12.00 Child/Concession, $50.00 Family (2 adults + 2 children), Children under 3 years of age free. (Money goes to the upkeep of the observatory, not me.)
More details: here (including registration.)
Topic: The Fine-Tuning of the Universe for Life
If we change the laws of nature just a little bit, our universe would be very different to what we have now. After explaining the science of what happens when you change the way our universe works, we will ask: what does all this mean?
Includes presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome area and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting).
Narrabeen Baptist Church – Thursday, 11 May
Time: 7.00pm – 8:30pm
Address: 13 Grenfell Avenue, North Narrabeen. Map.
Cost: Free.
More details: here.
Topic: Join us to hear from Sydney University Astrophysicist Dr Luke Barnes and then we’ll open the floor up for a question and answer time when you can draw on Dr Barnes’ knowledge. Please come with all questions you’ve ever wrestled through relating to science. It promises to be a great evening for all inquiring minds.
All are welcome.
Pint of Science, Sydney – Tuesday, 16 May
Time: 7.00pm – 9:30pm
Address: Bar Cleveland 433 Cleveland St, Surry Hills. Map.
Cost: $5.
More details: here, including tickets.
Topic: Three talks, which will aim to change the Laws of Physics. Prof. Jason Twamley will talk about quantum computing and the important of such research. Astrophysicist Dr. George Hobbs will explain what mysterious pulsars are and why their study is so important for physicists. After the break, cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes will challenge our understanding of the physical constants to demonstrate that we live in a finely-tuned Universe. This event is for those aged 18 years and older.
St Mark’s Lecture – Wednesday, 24 May
Time: 7.30pm
Address: 1 Greenoaks Ave, Darling Point. Map.
Cost: Free.
More details: here.
Topic: Order and Cosmos. This is a new one. I’ll be talking about entropy and order in the universe.
Mount Stromlo Public Astronomy Night – Thursday, 18 August (with Geraint)
Time: 7pm
Address: Mt Stromlo Observatory Visitor Centre, Cotter Road Weston Creek, ACT. Map.
Cost: Gold coin donation. Booking is essential.
More details: here.
Topic: Mount Stromlo Observatory in conjunction with the Canberra Astronomical Society invite the Canberra community to attend our public observing nights of 2017. Come and see the rings of Saturn, the craters of the moon as well as beautiful star clusters and nebulae. On the night attendees will be taken on a ‘tour of the universe’ with talks by astronomers from Mt. Stromlo Observatory and observations on several telescopes.
Geraint Lewis is a Professor of Astrophysics, a cosmologist who studies dark matter, dark energy, and the evolution of the universe. Luke Barnes is a Postdoctoral Researcher who studies galaxy formation and the fine-tuning of the universe for life. They are authors of “A Fortunate Universe: Life in a finely tuned cosmos”, and work at the University of Sydney’s School of Physics.
Warm clothing is recommended. Southern Cross Stromlo will also be open to serve cold and warm drinks, snacks, and hot soup and roll. In the event of cloudy/bad weather, star gazing will be cancelled and the cafe may be closed (the talks will occur regardless of the weather). You can check out the weather at Mt Stromlo using our all sky camera.
Letters to Nature 