February 16, 1995 Contact: Robert Irion (408/459-2495)
COSMOLOGIST TO DISCUSS OUR UNIVERSE--AND THE CHANCE THAT OTHERS EXIST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA CRUZ, CA--What is the fate of our universe? Is there some deep reason why this universe allowed creatures to evolve who can try to understand it? Does it make sense to talk about other universes, perhaps governed by quite different physical laws?
Those are some of the fascinating issues that noted cosmologist Sir Martin Rees will address in a free public lecture on Thursday, March 2, at UC Santa Cruz. The lecture, entitled "Our Universe and Others," will begin at 8 p.m. in lecture hall B-206 of the Earth and Marine Sciences Building.
"The varied structures in our present universe--stars, galaxies, and black holes--have all evolved from a hot fireball which exploded about 13 billion years ago," says Rees. Thanks to advances in astronomy and theoretical astrophysics, he notes, "We now can address some new fundamental questions about the history and future of the universe."
Rees, a British scientist who was knighted in 1992 for his contributions to astrophysics, is one of the world's most distinguished cosmologists. He is known especially for his studies of the early universe, galaxy formation, and quasars. With writer John Gribbin, he coauthored The Stuff of the Universe: Dark Matter, Mankind, and the Coincidences of Cosmology. The subtitle alludes to Rees's longstanding interest in the philosophical issues raised by modern theories of cosmology.
Rees's visit to UCSC is cosponsored by UCO/Lick Observatory and the departments of astronomy and astrophysics and physics. His talk is part of the Delphasus Lecture Series, funded by a private gift to UCSC to increase public appreciation of issues in astronomy and physics.
Further information or directions to the lecture hall are available from the UCSC Public Information Office at 459-2495.
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