WMU News - Local community has chance to hear from top scientists

Local community has chance to hear from top scientists

July 17, 2009

KALAMAZOO--An international science conference usually held in such cities as London, Paris and Vienna will be held at Western Michigan University July 22-28, giving Kalamazoo area residents a chance to hear popular lectures by two internationally known physicists.

The XXVI International Conference in Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions will bring some 700 of the world's leading scientists to Kalamazoo. They'll spend their days focusing on the latest research in atomic, molecular and optical physics. Two free evening events, however, are open to the public and tailored to provide lay audiences with an insight into the latest scientific developments. The second of these is especially appropriate for young people.

Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m.--Dr. Pat Dehmer, deputy director for science programs in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, will speak on "Facing Our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in Shaw Theatre.

Dehmer will explore the challenges and linkages to research in the physical and biological sciences that will drive many of those changes and technologies.

Friday, July 24, 7:30 p.m.--Dr. William Phillips, leader of the Laser Cooling and Trapping Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will speak on "Time, Einstein and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, also in Shaw Theatre.

Phillips is a Nobel laureate and widely recognized for actively engaging audiences in his talks. His presentation is suitable for children and will address atomic clocks--one of the key scientific and technological wonders of contemporary life. Phillips co-recipient for the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics is U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu.

For more information, visit the International Conference in Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions online.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

WMU News
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Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
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