Leading Theoretical Physicist to Speak at Bard College on Thursday, March 12

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.— On Thursday, March 12, the Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series at Bard College presents University of Maryland Professor S. James Gates Jr., John S. Toll Professor of Physics and director of the Center for String and Particle Theory at the University of Maryland. Gates’ lecture, “On Solving an ‘Unsolvable’ Problem in Superstring/M-Theory,” will explore how a new mathematical ‘Adinkra’ has been created to solve one of the most difficult problems in present day theoretical physics. (“Adinkras” are symbols used by the Akan people of Ghana to represent complex concepts). The lecture, takes place at 7:30 p.m. in Olin Hall, is free and open to the public. 

S. James Gates Jr. is distinguished among scientists working at the cutting edge of physics. He also has helped introduce scientific concepts to the public through the PBS television programs “Breakthrough: The Changing Face of Science in America,” “A Science Odyssey,” “The Elegant Universe,” and “Einstein's Big Idea,” and in “Superstring Theory: The DNA of Reality,” a popular DVD lecture collection. Gates has served on the faculties of MIT, Howard University, California Institute of Technology, and the University of Maryland, where he is director for the Center for String and Particle Theory. 

Gates is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the American Physical Society, which named him the first recipient of the Bouchet Award; and the National Society of Black Physicists, for which he is a past president. He has authored or coauthored more than 200 published research papers, coauthored one book, and contributed numerous articles to others. In 2008, he participated in a number of events at the World Science Festival in New York City, including the “Beyond Einstein” panel. His awards include the MIT Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, the Klopsteg Award of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and an award, previously given to Carl Sagan, from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He earned B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 For more information on this lecture, call 845-758- 7093.

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This event was last updated on 03-10-2009

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