The astrophysicist of the Institute of Cosmos Sciences and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalunya (IEEC), Carme Jordi, will give the outreach talk «Measuring the Universe inch by inch» next Wednesday, February 2nd, at the Bellavista Library of Les Franqueses del Vallès.
TALK: «MEASURING THE UNIVERSE INCH BY INCH»
How does one measure the size of the Earth? Or the distance to the moon or the sun? Or to the stars and galaxies? Knowing the dimensions of our Universe is one of the challenges of humanity. To tackle this, people have come up with strategies that allow us to calculate the distances to the nearest and furthest celestial bodies. In this talk, we will take a walk down history lane, from the first Greek astronomers to the current measurements, and we will explain how we can measure the visible Universe parting from the size of the Earth.
When? Wednesday, Febraury 2nd, at 10 am
Where? Biblioteca Les Franqueses - Bellavista (Les Franqueses del Vallés)
About the TOC-TOC project
TOC-TOC is the onomatopoeia that we hear when someone knocks at a door. This project, then, wants to facilitate the communication between the UB and the different social agents interested in the research that is carried out at the University. The researchers who are part of this project, offer outreach talks in which they explain, in the simplest words possible, their research. All of them – each one in their own area of expertise – share the common urge of bringing their work closer to society. If you are an institution interested in receiving the visit of one of these researchers, you only need to knock on our door by filling out this form.
About the author
Carme Jordi is an astronomer, professor in the Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences at the University of Barcelona, and a member of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia. His research focuses on the space mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), Gaia, which aims to create the largest and most accurate three-dimensional map of our Galaxy by conducting a survey of one billion stars with unprecedented accuracy in position and movement. Carme Jordi is also an active science disseminator; she participates in the "Toc-Toc" program of La UBDivulga, and gives talks and conferences in several centres and entities. She is also a professor at the "Universitat de l'Experiència de la UB", where she teaches astronomy for people older than 55 years old.