Astrophysics Group
Welcome to the web site of the Astrophysics group at Imperial College London. The group's research covers the following main themes:
For more information about the Group's research activities, events and seminars, and job and studentship opportunities, please use the links at the bottom of this page
Debate series: The Big Questions
We present a new series of debates entitled "The Big Questions" on topical themes in modern astrophysics and cosmology. In each debate, a member of the Astrophysics Group will discuss one of the big questions raised by cutting-edge research with a guest. The debates are aimed at the general public, who will have the opportunity to ask questions in what will be a lively and interactive discussion.
These debates are free with registration in advance.
25 February 2010, 6.30-8.30pm - "The Arabic roots of modern astronomy"
While the Western world was still engulfed in the Dark Ages, Arab astronomers profoundly changed our relationship with the skies, transforming our percepetion of the heavens: from an entity that mastered our destiny, the sky became an object of scientific study, well before Galileo. Arabs absorbed the legacy of Greek, Indian and Persian astronomy, and contributed key developments, for example by insisting that no model should be taken for granted if it doesn't fit with observations. Join our speakers, Dr Rim Turkmani and Prof Jim Al-Khalili, in an exciting exploration of the Arabic roots of modern astronomy, discussing how Arab science influenced the renaissance and spearheaded the scientific revolution.
Speakers:
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Professor Jim Al-Khalili (to be confirmed): Jim Al-Khalili OBE is a professor of physics at the University of Surrey and is also the University's first Professor of the Public Engagement in Science. He is author of several successful popular science books, so far translated into 13 languages. Jim is a regular contributor to radio and television science and history of science programmes, including presenting the recent BBC series, Science and Islam, and he is currently writing a book on medieval Arabic science to be published by Penguin Press next year. In 2007, he received the Royal Society Michael Faraday medal and prize for science communication. Jim is vice president of the British Science Association and a senior advisor to the British Council on science and technology.
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Dr Rim Turkmani is the holder of the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship at Imperial College London. Beside her research on solar flares and particle acceleration, Rim works actively on the history of Arabic/Islamic science and its influence on the renaissance and the scientific revolution. On this subject she participated in several TV and radio documentaries, consulted exhibitions and gave numerous talks to a wide range of audiences. She also took part in TV and public debates on science and religion. She strongly supports education as the main way forward for development, and to this aim she established the Damask Rose Trust, a UK-based charity which supports education and development in Syria, her home country.
Venue: To be announced
Past debates:
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12 November 2009 - "Human spaceflight: Science or spectacle?"
Speakers: Dr David Clements (Imperial College London) and Dr Ian Crawford (Birkbeck) -
15 September 2009 - "Do other universes exist?"
Speakers: Dr Roberto Trotta (Imperial College London) and Prof. Bernard Carr (QMUL)
Short Science Podcast featuring Roberto Trotta (browse to about 15 mins)
Short Science Podcast featuring Bernard Carr (browse to about 18 mins) - 21 July 2009 - "The fate of the Universe: Does dark energy really exist?"
Speakers: Prof. Andrew Jaffe (Imperial College London) and Prof. Subir Sarkar (Oxford University)
Listen to a podcast of the event, or read a review on the IOP website - 18 June 2009 - "The origin of the Universe"
Speakers: Prof. Michael Rowan -Robinson (Imperial College London) and Rev. Dr John Polkinghorne KBE FRS (Cambridge University)
