January 2010 Details of Next Lecture by NUI Galway's Centre of Astronomy Announced

The next in a series of public talks by NUI Galway's Centre of Astronomy will cover two topics, Astrophysics and Atmospheric Physics. The free lecture will take place on Wednesday, 27 January, at 7.30pm in the McMunn Theatre, NUI Galway. Astrophysics is a broad subject focused on developing an understanding of our place in the universe. This part of the lecture will be presented by Dr Andrew Shearer, Director of Centre of Astronomy, NUI Galway, who said: "In Galway, we are interested in modelling and observations of a diverse selection of astronomical objects including pulsars, young and forming stars, star clusters, exo-planets and brown dwarfs. In order to study these objects we have to use astronomical facilities spread around the world and in space. We also have an advanced programme of instrument development particular for the largest optical telescopes". Atmospheric Physics includes a wide spectrum of research ranging from climate change studies to cloud formation, atmosphere-ocean interactions to health and environmental effects of air pollution. This part of the lecture will be given by Dr Brian Ward, Lecturer with the School of Physics, who will provide an overview of the Atmospheric Physics cluster and its Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS) at NUI Galway. He will also be discussing the University's research facilities such as the Global Atmosphere Watch Research Station, Mace Head, near Carna in Connemara. After the lecture a tour will be given of the research facilities in the NUI Galway School of Physics. Although the lectures will be aimed at second level students, they will also be of interest and open to the general public. More details about this lecture series can be found on http://astro.nuigalway.ie/outreach.php. -ends-