East Anglia

2008

Location: BT John Bray Auditorium, Adastral Park, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk
Date: 15 May 2008
Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm
Title: Sir Fred Hoyle - man of many ideas
Speaker: Dr Simon Mitton

The Institute of Physics ( East Anglia Branch), in collaboration with the Institute of Telecommunication Professionals (ITP), invite you to an Anglia regional lecture about the life and research of Sir Fred Hoyle.

The talk is about one of the most colourful science characters of the 20th century. Fred Hoyle was born in Bingley, Yorkshire, in 1915. He was the son of a wool merchant and a teacher. He was one of the most respected of British science thinkers in the mid-twentieth century, as a leading astronomer, mathematician, populariser of science, and novelist. Latterly though, he gained controversial notoriety as the heavy-weight astronomer who rejected the 'big bang' theory, claiming, 'Every cluster of galaxies, every star, every atom had a beginning, but the universe itself did not.' It is believed that Hoyle coined the phrase 'big bang' to mock the opposing model; he never believed that the universe originated from a spontaneous explosion. He had similar controversial theories about the origin of life on earth, suggesting that life had a cosmic origin, and viruses could originate from certain meteor streams.

This should be an exciting talk, as the presenter Dr Simon Mitton has both theoretical and practical knowledge of his subject - on the practical side, his postdoctoral career started under Sir Fred Hoyle at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. On the theoretical side, after working in high energy astrophysics, he turned to the history of astronomy. His biography of Sir Fred Hoyle was published in April 2005. Simon is author of a number of science books and will have mint condition signed copies of his hardback book on Sir Fred Hoyle which can be purchased at the lecture for £5 only.

There will be refreshments and networking from 6.00pm followed by the lecture at 7.00pm prompt.

Location: Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge
Date: 3 June 2008
Time: 7.00pm
Title: To be announced, followed by AGM
Speaker:To be announced

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