Confronting Gravity:
A Workshop to explore fundamental questions in physics and Cosmology
Sponsored by the J. Epstein VI Foundation, and the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University.
The effort to understand the nature of gravity, at both the quantum and classical levels, has played a central role in much of modern physics. For example, gravitational waves could unveil the physical processes associated with the creation of our present universe and also the nature of the ultimate collapse of matter into black holes. The question of precisely how empty space may gravitate will not only help elucidate how general relativity might be reconciled with quantum mechanics, but it might help us understand the ultimate future of our universe, and life within it. The effort to reconcile quantum mechanics with gravity, perhaps the last great unsolved puzzle of 20th century particle physics has led, over the past 30 years, to a remarkable theoretical set of constructions. If the ideas of String Theory are correct, there may be ahost of new dimensions, and even whole new universes, lying right beyond our reach. All of these questions were explored as 21 of the leading theoretical and experimental physicists in the world convened in St. Thomas for five days of meetings in a relaxed setting to present their latest results and explore and debate new proposals to address these outsanding puzzles in physics. Among the attendees were Nobel Laureates, Gerard ‘tHooft, David Gross, and Frank Wilczek, theorists whose work has helped elucidate the nature of two of the four forces in nature, and Stephen Hawking, whose work on gravity and the nature of black holes has helped drive both our theoretical and experimental understanding of gravity over the past 30 years. There were several outreach aspects of the workshop as well. "Home-grown" USVI physicist Edward Thomas, now at Auburn, attended the workshop as an observer. Krauss, Gross, Gerard ‘tHooft, and Wilczek spoke to 300 high school students from around the island at a morning question and answer session. Lawrence Krauss gave an afternoon lecture which was free and open to the public.
- Confronting Gravity:
- A Workshop to explore fundamental questions in physics and Cosmology
- Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas, USVI
- March 16-21, 2006
Sponsored by the J. Epstein VI Foundation, and the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics (CERCA) at Case Western Reserve University.
- Participants included:
- Eric Adelberger, University of Washington
- Barry Barish, California Inst. of Technology
- J. Richard Bond, Canadian Inst. for Theoretical Astrophysics
- Thibault Damour, Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifique
- Savas Dimopoulos, Stanford University
- David J. Gross, Kavli Inst. for Theoretical Physics
- Alan Guth, Mass. Inst. of Technology
- Stephen Hawking, Cambridge University
- Lawrence M. Krauss, CERCA
- P.James Peebles, Princeton University
- Lisa Randall, Harvard University
- John Ruhl, CERCA
- Glenn D. Starkman, CERCA
- Maria Spiropulu, European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN)
- Gerard ‘tHooft, Utrecht University
- Max Tegmark, Mass. Inst. of Technology
- Kip Thorne, California Inst. of Technology
- Tanmay Vachaspati, CERCA
- Alex Vilenkin, Tufts University
- Robert Wald, University of Chicago
- Frank Wilczek, Mass. Inst. of Technology
Schedule :: Photo Gallery
Press Coverage
- St. Thomas Source: March 14th 2006
- Great Minds Gather
- The Virgin Islands Daily News: March 16th 2006
- Krauss captures crowd
- St. Thomas Source: March 17th 2006
- Agenda: Fun and Physics
- St. Thomas Source: March 20th 2006
- Antilles School Pulses
- The Virgin Islands Daily News: March 21st 2006
- Nobelists inspire students