Public lectures on the occasion of Amaldi-9 and NRDA-2011

ConferencesJuly 11-13, 2011, 6.30 pm

Julian Hodge Lecture Theatre, Colum DriveCardiff University

July 11, 6.30 pmWhat does a sociologist see when he looks at science

Professor Harry Collins School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University

Professor Collins research interests are in the nature of scientific knowledge and knowledge in general; the public understanding of science; the nature of skill and

expertise; artificial Intelligence and the relationship between humans and machines; medical knowledge and skills; science education. He is the author of numerous books on the sociology of science and the nature of knowledge, including co-author of the

controversial The Golem: what you should know about science.

July 12, 6.30 pmThe Herschel and Planck missions: Exploring the History of the Universe

Professor Matt GriffinSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Professor Griffin works on infrared and sub-millimetre astronomy and instrumentation, especially developing instruments for both ground-based and

satellite-borne observatories. He is the Principal Investigator for the SPIRE instrument on the Hershel Space Observatory and a Co-Investigator in the Planck HFI instrument team.  He also chairs the UK Herschel Outreach Group which organises a

UK-wide programme of outreach activities associated with the Herschel mission.

July 13, 6.30 pmGravitational Waves: Listening to the True Music of the

Spheres!Professor Bernard Schutz

Director, Max Planck Inst. for Grav. Phys. & Cardiff UniversityProfessor Schutz’s research is principally in the study of the physics and astrophysics of gravitational wave sources including black holes and neutron stars, and in methods

of analyzing data from gravitational wave detectors to discover and study gravitational waves. He is the author of a number of textbooks and popular books in

relativity and astrophysics.