Physics & Astronomy Public Lecture: Cosmic Discovery in the Bursting Radio Sky
Journey with Professor Victoria Kaspi to one of the most exciting frontiers in astrophysics! Her talk on Fast Radio Bursts reveals new ways to explore and understand the Universe.
Victoria Kaspi is a distinguished astrophysicist whose work has profoundly shaped our understanding of neutron stars and Fast Radio Bursts. A professor of physics at McGill University and the director of the McGill Space Institute, she is renowned for her observational and theoretical contributions to high-energy astrophysics.
In her lecture The Fast Radio Sky, Kaspi will guide us through the frontiers of astrophysics research: In 2007, astronomers discovered a new mysterious cosmic phenomenon: Fast Radio Bursts. These events consist of short, intense blasts of radio waves arriving from far outside our
Milky Way galaxy. Their origin is unknown, however Fast Radio Bursts appear ubiquitous in our Universe, with roughly 1000 arriving every day over the full sky. I will describe the Fast Radio Burst mystery and what is presently known about it, and present a revolutionary new radio
telescope recently built in Canada that is enabling astronomers to make major progress in our understanding of the FRB puzzle.
Kaspi earned her Ph.D. in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University, and held positions at MIT and the California Institute of Technology before joining McGill. Kaspi is the first woman and one of the youngest researchers to ever win the Herzberg Canada Gold Medal in 2018. She has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada.
Her research primarily uses X-ray and radio telescopes, most notably the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME). CHIME is a radio telescope with an ideal design to discover Fast Radio Bursts and to monitor pulsars. Kaspi is a key contributor to building and running CHIME, and has ensured CHIME provides opportunities for junior researchers and community involvement.
A gifted public lecturer, Kaspi is known for clear, engaging talks that translate the physics of extreme matter and relativistic phenomena for general audiences.
The Public Lecture in Physics and Astronomy Series brings distinguished scientists and science communicators to the Dartmouth community to explore big questions about the universe. We invite everyone to share in the joy of discovery and learn about transformative research in physics and astronomy. These lectures are open, engaging, and thought-provoking. We welcome curious minds of all backgrounds—students, teachers, neighbors, and friends—regardless of your level of science experience. Admission is free, and all are welcome!
Join us in Wilder Hall 104, or via . Arrive by 6:45pm to mingle and enjoy light snacks and refreshments.
