Distinguished physicist to give public lecture at close of Mitchell Institute conference
COLLEGE STATION —
Looking to better understand the origins of the universe, The George P. & Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics at Texas A&M University will host an international conference on “String Theory and Cosmology,” March 14-17.
After the conference, there will be a public presentation on March 20 of “Superstrings, Time Warps, Parallel Universes, and ‘Reading the Mind of God’” by Michio Kaku, the Henry Semat Professor in Theoretical Physics at the City University of New York (CUNY) and visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as New York University (NYU). The presentation will be held in Rudder Theater at 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students, and tickets can be purchased at the MSC Box Office.
Kaku, co-founder of the string field theory, is continuing Albert Einstein’s quest to find the “theory of everything,” a simple equation that would unify all four of the fundamental forces in the universe. He is an internationally recognized authority in theoretical physics and the environment and is the author of two forthcoming books: Einstein’s Cosmos and Parallel Worlds. Kaku is also the host of Explorations in Science, an hour-long weekly radio program on science, technology, politics and the environment.
The conference is part of a month-long workshop that will bring some of the world’s top physicists to the Texas A&M campus for intensive scientific discussions and research. Cosmology is the study of the origin, structure, and eventual fate of the universe. String Theory postulates that everything in the universe is composed of excitations, or vibrations, of tiny strings. As the scientists would put it, this is the “theory of everything.”
Established with a gift from the well-known Texas businessman and his wife, The George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics gives the College of Science a prestigious platform in theoretical physics. The Mitchells are longtime benefactors of Texas A&M.
In its inaugural year in 2003, The Mitchell Institute ran a month-long workshop that hosted Stephen Hawking, the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, and focused on a deep mystery of the universe: What becomes of objects, and information, trapped inside a black hole when it evaporates?
George Mitchell, a 1940 distinguished graduate of Texas A&M’s Department of Petroleum Engineering, made his career in energy and real-estate development; he was co-founder of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. But while he built his successful business career, Mitchell cultivated interests in philanthropy, civics and global issues, ranging from the environment to the implications of science and technology.
Prior to the March 20 presentation, a hands-on science exhibit will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center. Texas A&M University faculty and students will be on hand to speak with participants at the exhibits, and admission is free of charge.
For more information on the conference, exhibits or presentation, contact Beverly Guster at (979)845-7778 or b-guster@physics.tamu.edu.
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Contact: Pat Schaub, Communications Specialist, College of Science, Texas A&M University, EMAIL: pschaub@science.tamu.edu, PH: 979-862-1237.
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