FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Mary Anthony

mary.anthony@trinity.edu

Oct. 13, 2008

Astronomer to Speak During Distinguished Scientists Lecture at Trinity University

SAN ANTONIO – Robert P. Kirshner, Clowes Professor of Science at Harvard University, will discuss “The Accelerating Universe: Einstein’s Blunder Undone” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, in Laurie Auditorium, as part of the Trinity University Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public.

At Trinity, Dr. Kirshner will show how astronomers use observations of supernova explosions to trace cosmic history and discuss some of the plans to learn more about the nature of dark energy, one of the deepest mysteries of the physical world.  Author of more than 200 research papers dealing with supernova and observational cosmology, Dr. Kirshner has won numerous science awards, including “Science Breakthrough of the Year for 1998” by Science magazine for his work on the “High-Z Supernova Team” on the acceleration of the Universe.  Dr. Kirshner and the High-Z Team shared in the Gruber Prize for Cosmology in 2007.  Dr. Kirshner’s popular-level book, The Extravagant Universe: exploding stars, dark energy, and the accelerating cosmos, won the AAP Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Physics and Astronomy and was a finalist for the 2003 Aventis Prize.

The Trinity University Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series is made possible through an endowment created by Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Brown of San Antonio.  For more information, contact Trinity University’s Office of University Communications at 210-999-8406.

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