Cafe Sci SV: Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Dark Matter and Dark Energy
A discussion with Professor Patricia Burchat Stanford University
Everything in our observable world is made of the same building blocks: protons, neutrons and electrons ("baryonic matter"). However, baryonic matter comprises only 5% of the cosmos. This means an amazing 95% of the universe is comprised out of mystery materials that we cannot directly observe. Scientists have named the mystery components "dark matter" and "dark energy."
Dark matter comprises roughly 23% of the universe. Scientists know dark matter is there because of its gravitational pull. The remaining 72% is dark energy, which causes space itself to expand at an ever increasing rate.
Patricia Burchat is a professor in Stanford's Department of Physics, where she is Department Chair. Her research has focused on fundamental physics: What is the Universe made of? What are the laws of physics that govern the fundamental constituents of the Universe? Her research efforts have included smashing things together at Stanford Linear Accelerator and the development of a large survey telescope in Chile which will focus on mapping dark matter.
Join Patricia for a discussion exploring the evidence for dark matter and dark energy, and the experiments being developed to investigate their fundamental nature.
Patricia received her PhD in physics from Stanford in 1986. Long recognized for her teaching ability, she received the Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007, Stanford's highest teaching honor.
Join us at SRI in Menlo Park
We are delighted that SRI International is the host location for Cafe Scientifique. SRI is an excellent partner, providing us with a beautiful, large, flexible meeting space, supporting us with highly professional staff and making expert researchers available as guest speakers.
Open to all - Free of charge
Click
here
for map and directions Do not park at SRI's main entrance at 333 Ravenswood Ave.
Entrances to Conference Center parking are next to the church on Ravenswood and at Ringwood and Middlefield.
Coffee, tea and biscotti will be complimentary, provided by SRI Bring your own mug if you wish to avoid using disposable cups
Courtesy of Kepler's there will be a drawing for a $30 gift card for books or merchandise at Kepler's on El Camino Real in Menlo Park. Those who choose to enter the drawing will have their names added to the Kepler's mailing list. Special thanks to Kepler's for supporting Cafe Sci.
Café Scientifique is a place where anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. The Café provides a forum for debating science issues outside a traditional academic context. We are committed to promoting public engagement with science and to making science accountable - all spoken in plain English. There is no admission charge to attend our events. Building on its great success outside the United States, Café Scientifique Silicon Valley is the first such Café on the West Coast. We meet monthly to discuss a variety of science topics.
