Members of the public can find out how to visualize the atomic world, take a crash course in Einstein, find out how computers can help cure cancer, or hear about the history of length during the popular Science on Saturday lecture series beginning Saturday, January 5, at the Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Plainsboro.
The lectures are geared toward high school students but are open to anyone with an interest in cutting-edge science, technology, and mathematics. In fact, a wide range of people from middle-school students to older adults attend the series, which is held each Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium of PPPL’s Lyman Spitzer building through March 16. (There is no lecture on February 23 due to the New Jersey Regional Science Bowl.)
“To hear about world-class science at a level that’s accessible to the lay person, that’s always a good thing,” said Ronald Hatcher, an engineer at PPPL who hosts the series. “We get some of the country’s leading scientists to come here and talk about their research.”
As a national laboratory, PPPL has heightened security measures for all visitors. Visitors to PPPL must stop at the security booth before entering the facility and should be prepared to show a government-issued photo ID such as a license. Non-U.S. citizens should show a photo ID and provide information about their citizenship and place and date of birth.
The series events include:
Saturday, January 5, 9:30 a.m. “The Large Hadron Collider: Big Science for Big Questions” presented by James Olsen, a professor of physics at Princeton University.
Saturday, January 12, 9:30 a.m. “Visualizing the Atomic World” presented by Udo D. Schwarz, department of chemical and environmental engineering, Yale University.
Saturday, January 19, 9:30 a.m. “Outer Space” presented by Joshua E.G. Peek, department of astronomy, Columbia University.
Saturday, January 26, 9:30 a.m. “Disastrous Equations: The Role of Mathematics in Understanding Tsunami” presented by J. Douglas Wright, professor of mathematics, Drexel University.
Saturday, February 2, 9:30 a.m. “From Zero to C in 60 Minutes: A Crash Course in Einstein” presented by R. Shankar, professor of physics, Yale University.
Saturday, February 9, 9:30 a.m. “Finding a Needle in a Genomic Haystack or How Can Computers Help Cure Cancer” presented by Olga C. Troyanskaya, Institute for Integrative genomics and department of computer science, Princeton University.
Saturday, February 16, 9:30 a.m. “From Robot Soccer to Automotive Safety: An Optical Tour” presented by R. Andrew Hicks, professor of mathematics, Drexel University.
Saturday, March 2, 9:30 a.m. “Light and Nanotechnology: Engineering and So Much More” presented by Claire Gmachi, department of electrical engineering, Princeton University.
Saturday, March 9, 9:30 a.m. “A Short History of Length” presented by Joel Langer, department of mathematics, Case Western Reserve University.
Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. “A Robot’s View of Our Ocean Planet” presented by Josh Kohut, professor of oceanography, Rutgers University.
Science on Saturday, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Forrestal Campus, Route 1 North, Plainsboro. Register on site beginning at 8:15 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be served. For students, parents, teachers, and community members. Photo ID required. Free. 609-243-2121. www.pppl.gov.
