Black holes are perhaps the strangest thing in a very strange universe. An almost unbelievable prediction of Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, black holes create a gravitational pull so strong, they can trap anything that gets too close. Even light. Black holes also pull on our imaginations, often appearing as the villains in science fiction. Join RCIScience for an exploration of the latest science about black holes and a discussion about how they are depicted in popular culture. Are black holes truly terrifying? Or simply misunderstood monsters.
Presented in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre.
NEW: We’ll also be hosting a science-themed market in the lobby so come prepared to do some holiday shopping! Sellers include:
About the Speakers
Moderator
Dr. Jesse Rogerson is a passionate science communicator who loves promoting science literacy to the public. He frequently represents the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on television and radio, social media, and at conferences. A trained and practicing astrophysicist, Jesse holds a PhD in observational astrophysics from York University, and publishes his research in peer-reviewed journals. Jesse enjoys riding his motorcycle, board games, and ultimate frisbee.
Panellists
Dr. Christina Smith is a post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering at York University in Toronto. Christina currently focuses on studies of planetary atmospheres and is a current member of the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) Science Operations Team. She recently joined the Juno Mission as a Participating Scientist. Christina completed her PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Manchester in the UK studying evolved stars.
Dr. Avery Broderick is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and the Delaney Family John Archibald Wheeler Chair in Theoretical Physics at the Perimeter Institute. Avery works to explain the fundamental physics of black holes and their observable characteristics. As a member of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Dr. Broderick participates in the creation and interpretation of the first horizon-resolving images of astronomical black holes in the history of astronomy.
Prof Suresh Sivanandam is an Assistant Professor at the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Suresh works in experimental astrophysics, studying galaxy evolution and galaxy clusters to understand the interactions between galaxies. In addition to this work, Suresh designs and builds novel astronomical instrumentation and is leading a survey to characterize the types of stars that exist in nearby galaxies.