JILA Auditorium

Abstract: The past 20 years have seen significant advancements in the teaching and learning in college-level Astronomy, with a particular focus on the introductory general education course (hereafter Astro 101).  In recent years collaborators with the Center for Astronomy Education (CAE) have undertaken a theoretical approach to develop a new generation of instructional strategies.  Beyond advancements in the teaching of Astro 101, this work has bridged to the teaching of Astronomy Majors courses.

*Reception with cake in the h-bar following the talk

 Perhaps "The quark model for an AMO audience'' would be a better title? Anyway, I will tell you a bit about the spectroscopy of strongly interacting particles, a bit about the quark model, a bit about how people calculate the masses of bound states of quarks and gluons, and a bit about some states that I think are particularly interesting.

Abstract: We are all physicists, and have at least some acquaintance with mathematics. And we all have a fear of nuclear war. There are currently nine nations with these dreadful weapons. Can you name them? This colloquium will criticize the current meaning of deterrence, and offer an alternative, with evidence.

Abstract:  Underpinning planetary science is a deep history of observation and, more recently, robotic exploration within the Solar System, from which models of planetary processes have been constructed. Concurrently, thousands of planets have been discovered outside our Solar System that exhibit enormous diversity, and their large numbers provide a statistical opportunity to place our Solar System within the broader context of planetary structure, atmospheres, architectures, formation, and evolution.

Abstract: The 2000-antenna Deep Synoptic Array (DSA-2000) will be a world- leading radio survey telescope and multi-messenger discovery engine operating in the 0.7-2 GHz band, with key surveys planned for 2028- 2033. The survey speed of the DSA-2000 will be unmatched among current or planned radio telescopes.

Abstract: Galaxies are intimately connected to the environments they live in. The haloes around them contain the gas reservoir from which the galaxies grow, while galactic outflows heat and enrich this circumgalactic medium (CGM). The elemental abundances of present-day stars are, in part, set by these cosmic gas flows. Using zoom-in cosmological simulations of galaxies, I will discuss the physical and observable properties of gas and stars in and around galaxies.

Abstract: The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration is conducting a 5 year redshift survey of 40 million extra-galactic sources over 14,000 square degrees of the northern sky. One of its primary goals is to measure the cosmic expansion history with baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). I will present the measurement of BAO in galaxy, quasar and Lyman-alpha forest tracers from the first year of observation.

Abstract:  Many of the new molecules discovered in astrophysical objects are totally outlandish by traditional perspectives: long linear unsaturated carbon chains, metals in surprising charge states, and strained ring structures have all challenged chemists to think beyond terrestrial conventions in explaining how these molecules form and react, and where they fit into the overall cycle of planetary and stellar evolution.