Newswise — March 24, 2016 (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) – An active nickel mine two kilometres below the Earth’s surface is the last place most people would expect to find an ultra-clean lab for exploring astrophysics and cosmology. On Apr. 13, Nobel Laureate Art McDonald will discuss how researchers created a 1,000-tonne heavy-water-based neutrino detector at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), and explain the research that earned both the 2015 Nobel Prize and 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
The lecture, titled “A Deeper Understanding of the Universe From 2km Underground,” is part of the Perimeter Institute Public Lecture Series, and will be webcast live April 13 at 7 PM EDT on the Perimeter Institute website and via partner organizations.
McDonald and collaborators found clear evidence for neutrino flavour change, which also requires that neutrinos have non-zero mass. This evidence led to a modification of the Standard Model for elementary particles – the accepted understanding of the various matter that forms the building blocks of our universe.
The Director of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) Scientific Collaboration since 1989, McDonald is also a Professor Emeritus at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, and a member of Perimeter Institute’s Board of Directors. He has also served as a professor at both Queen’s University and Princeton University, as well as a Research Officer at AECL Chalk River Laboratories. McDonald’s many awards and honours include being named a Companion of the Order of Canada, co-recipient of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, and a recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics as part of the SNO Collaboration.
Following his talk, McDonald will answer questions from the online and in-house audience – including questions submitted prior to and during the talk via Facebook and Twitter (using the hashtag #piLIVE). Questions are welcomed from everyone – aspiring scientific explorers, school classes, physics and chemistry buffs, and general science enthusiasts.
Click here to sign up for a reminder to tune-in to the live webcast.
View past PI Public Lectures and events, and find further details about PI’s research, training, and outreach activities at www.perimeterinstitute.ca.
________________________________________LIVE WEBCAST DETAILS• What: Art McDonald, A Deeper Understanding of the Universe from 2km Underground• When: Wednesday, Apr. 13, 7 PM EDT • Where: Live at Perimeter Institute, webcast online at http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/now-streaming• Click here to sign up to receive an email reminder about the live webcast• Pose questions for McDonald by tweeting @Perimeter using the hashtag #piLIVE• More info: http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/outreach/general-public/public-lecture-series________________________________________
ABOUT PERIMETER INSTITUTEPerimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Eamon O’FlynnManager, Media Relationseoflynn[at]perimeterinstitute[dot]ca(519) 569-7600 x5071@Perimeter
RSS