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In collaboration with the Joint Center for Astrophysics and Center for Space Science & Technology, the Physics Department at UMBC will host a Multimedia Public Lecture entitled "The Violent Universe" given by Dr. Volker Beckmann.

This event is free, and open to the general public.

When	March 1st, 7:30-8:30pm
Where	Lecture Hall 6 in the Physics Department on the UMBC campus [Directions]

Summary: There is more to discover in the Universe than our eyes can see. When using high energy telescopes, which are able to detect X-ray and Gamma-ray radiation, the cosmos reveals its most violent nature. Stars are burning at a million degrees, explosions of stars set free a vast amount of radiation, and black holes are detectable through their X-ray emission because of matter getting funneled into their unescapable field. Also the most distant galaxies are visible through NASA's "X-ray eyes", which revolutionize our understanding of how things work in the realm of extreme physics. This presentation will take you on a journey out into the Universe, starting with the Sun and the solar system and leading all the way to the very early days, when the first stars and galaxies formed.

No detailed knowledge of science is required to understand this presentation - just an enquiring mind...

About the Presenter...

Dr Beckmann is an Assistant Research Professsor at UMBC, and an expert in high-energy physical processed observed in "Active Galaxies" and "High Mass X-ray Binaries". Dr. Beckmann performs most of his research at the NASA/Goodard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt (Md), where he is the Lead Scientist of the US "Guest Observer Facility" of the INTEGRAL spacecraft. Dr. Beckmann has taught both the "Stellar Astrophysics" and "ExtraGalactic Astronomy & Cosmology" courses at UMBC.

Dr. Beckmann's research is supported via UMBC's participation in the "CRESST" cooperative agreement with NASA/GSFC. The University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) are our partners in the CRESST consortium.