Faculty of Technology
International cosmologists gather at conference
Mon, Sep 19, 2011
The University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation has welcomed nearly 100 experts from over 20 Institutions at the event which continues until Thursday.
A focus of the conference is observational and theoretical issues to do with cosmic superstrings -lines of pure mass-energy stretching across the entire Universe, which, if they exist, are likely to be billions of light years away.
Reader in Cosmology, Dr Robert Crittenden, said: “Some of the big names in theoretical and particle cosmology are here at the University so it’s an exciting time for the Institute. Having internationally renowned experts together to debate and discuss the existence of cosmic superstrings has been fascinating. No one has ever directly seen superstrings but we have good reason to believe they could exist. We have academics here who are at the forefront of research in particle cosmology and it is great to debate these new advances.”
The idea for annual cosmology meetings began 20 years ago when a group of researchers gathered to discuss subjects related to particle cosmology. The initial meetings were attended by around 15 researchers but each year they continue to grow and different institutions take turns to host.
Dr Crittenden said: “This event is not only valuable to join together leading experts; we also encourage PhD students and younger researchers to present talks. It is such worthwhile experience for them to mingle and network with eminent cosmologists.”
Researchers have come from Institutions in Japan, South Africa, India and France, as well as from many UK Universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, Durham and Edinburgh. The meetings are funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.
Related links:
http://www.port.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/title,133511,en.html
http://www.port.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/title,133258,en.html
http://www.port.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/archive2011/march2011/title,129458,en.html