Monday, August 03, 2009

Cosmos in Your Pocket

Saturday October 10 1:30 pm - Public & Free

William T. Bridgman, Ph.D., Global Science & Technology, Greenbelt, MD

Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (map)
Near Bethesda metro (directions) (flyer)

Astronomy provides a laboratory for extreme physics, a window into environments at extremes of distance, temperature and density that often can't be reproduced in Earth laboratories, or at least not right away. A surprising amount of the science we understand today started out as solutions to problems in astronomy. Some of this science was key in the development of many technologies which we enjoy today. This talk describes some of these connections between astronomy and technology and their history.

Dr. Bridgman received his Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy from Clemson University in 1994, studying nuclear and high-energy astrophysics. After completing his doctorate, he worked as an instrument specialist for the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. He currently works as a contractor doing data-based scientific visualization for NASA media and public outreach. Over the years, he became involved in refuting pseudo-scientific issues in astronomy, particularly Young-Earth creationism and more recently Electric Universe claims. He operates a website and blog, "Dealing with Creationism in Astronomy"



Print Friendly and PDF