Public Talks
I regularly deliver lectures on contemporary topics across astronomy and physics to a variety of audiences. These include the general public with no particular background in astronomy, at science festivals and other events, amateur astronomy societies, school and community groups and guests on board Cunard Line ships as part of the Cunard Insights programme.
I am always happy to give talks. A selection of those I have given in the past can be found below along with suggestions of titles for those interested in reading more (at a popular science level!). If you would like to know more, please get in touch.
Supermassive Black Holes: Monsters lurking in the hearts of galaxies
Black holes are some of the most exotic and most extreme objects in the Universe. Though they may sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you may think; every galaxy has one lurking at its centre! Find out exactly what a black hole is, how we can find them and how they can power some of the brightest objects we see in the night sky.
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
KIPAC Discover Our Universe lecture series — Stanford University, Stanford, CA — June 30, 2020
Our Universe Revealed lecture series — University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN — February 11, 2020
Black holes are some of the most exotic and most extreme objects in the Universe. Though they may sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you may think; every galaxy has one lurking at its centre! Find out exactly what a black hole is, how we can find them and how they can power some of the brightest objects we see in the night sky.
Further Reading
Gravity's Fatal Attraction – 2nd Ed, M. Begelman and M. Rees, 2010, Cambridge University Press
Black Holes and Time Warps – K. Thorne, 1995, Norton
Born from the Stars
The Universe is big – bigger than we can often comprehend - but it has fascinating details on every scale. From the extremely large, galaxies, stars and planets, to the incredibly small, with intricate structure inside every atom. But where did it all come from? Find out how astronomy can start to answer some of the biggest questions. How did the Universe around us come to be, what is it made of and what will become of it all in the future?
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
University of Notre Dame Our Universe Revealed Online Lecture Series, April 7 2020
The Universe is big – bigger than we can often comprehend - but it has fascinating details on every scale. From the extremely large, galaxies, stars and planets, to the incredibly small, with intricate structure inside every atom. But where did it all come from? Find out how astronomy can start to answer some of the biggest questions. How did the Universe around us come to be, what is it made of and what will become of it all in the future?
Further Reading
Big Bang – S. Singh, 2005, Harper Perennial
The Cosmic Century – M. Longair, 2006, Cambridge University Press
(For the dedicated reader) The Road to Reaility — a complete guide to the laws of the Universe – R. Penrose, 2004, Jonathan Cape
Flares and Fireworks from Black Holes
Black holes are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the universe. Though they sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you might think. Every galaxy has a black hole lurking at its center! Also, these black holes are not actually black, because matter falling into black holes liberates energy that can power some of the brightest objects we see in the night sky. In this lecture you will find out exactly what a black hole is, how we can find them, and how they can flare intensely — giving rise to impressive firework displays and launching vast jets of plasma at close to the speed of light.
SLAC Public Lecture, 25 July 2017, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, 25 February 2018
San Jose Astronomical Society, 28 July 2018
Black holes are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the universe. Though they sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you might think. Every galaxy has a black hole lurking at its center! Also, these black holes are not actually black, because matter falling into black holes liberates energy that can power some of the brightest objects we see in the night sky. In this lecture you will find out exactly what a black hole is, how we can find them, and how they can flare intensely — giving rise to impressive firework displays and launching vast jets of plasma at close to the speed of light.
Further Reading
Gravity's Fatal Attraction – 2nd Ed, M. Begelman and M. Rees, 2010, Cambridge University Press
Our Place in the Universe
The night sky is our window out onto the whole Universe. Discover the stars, planets, galaxies and the many more exotic phenomena. See how our knowledge of our place in the Universe has advanced rapidly, even in the past few years. Find out how astronomers study the night sky to answer some of the biggest questions: Where did it all come from and how do we fit into it all?
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
The night sky is our window out onto the whole Universe. Discover the stars, planets, galaxies and the many more exotic phenomena. See how our knowledge of our place in the Universe has advanced rapidly, even in the past few years. Find out how astronomers study the night sky to answer some of the biggest questions: Where did it all come from and how do we fit into it all?
Further Reading
The Cosmic Century – M. Longair, 2006, Cambridge University Press
Our Cosmic Habitat – M. Rees, 2001, Phoenix
Reaching for the Heavens
The space age has revolutionised the study of astronomy. Space-based telescopes have not only produced some of the clearest and most detailed images of the heavens but have unlocked whole fields of study that are not possible from the ground. Discover the history of space astronomy, hear the remarkable story of the now-famous Hubble space telescope and find out about the ground-breaking missions planned for the coming decades.
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
The space age has revolutionised the study of astronomy. Space-based telescopes have not only produced some of the clearest and most detailed images of the heavens but have unlocked whole fields of study that are not possible from the ground. Discover the history of space astronomy, hear the remarkable story of the now-famous Hubble space telescope and find out about the ground-breaking missions planned for the coming decades.
Further Reading
Hubble — The Mirror on the Universe – R. Kerrod and C. Stott, 2008, David and Charles
Our Cosmic Neighborhood
From the small, hot and rocky planets Mercury and Venus to Mars then the Gas Giants; Jupiter, Saturn and the others, mankind been visiting other worlds for over 40 years. Our knowledge of our Cosmic Neighborhood has advanced tremendously as we have pioneered to the edge of the Solar System and beyond. Discover some of the technology that has taken us to other worlds, see for yourself the amazing alien landscapes and find out how even in the past few years we are looking at some of these planets differently!
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
From the small, hot and rocky planets Mercury and Venus to Mars then the Gas Giants; Jupiter, Saturn and the others, mankind been visiting other worlds for over 40 years. Our knowledge of our Cosmic Neighborhood has advanced tremendously as we have pioneered to the edge of the Solar System and beyond. Discover some of the technology that has taken us to other worlds, see for yourself the amazing alien landscapes and find out how even in the past few years we are looking at some of these planets differently!
The Great Debate: Astronomical Controversy
Astronomical discoveries have not always been clear-cut. As fuzzy images of celestial bodies first appeared in telescopes throughout history, it was often unclear what they were and competing theories developed to explain the Universe around us, sometimes leading to bitter disputes! We shall explore some of the astronomical controversies that have arisen, visit some of the more exotic interpretations and discover how, finally, many of them were resolved.
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
Astronomical discoveries have not always been clear-cut. As fuzzy images of celestial bodies first appeared in telescopes throughout history, it was often unclear what they were and competing theories developed to explain the Universe around us, sometimes leading to bitter disputes! We shall explore some of the astronomical controversies that have arisen, visit some of the more exotic interpretations and discover how, finally, many of them were resolved.
Further Reading
The Cosmic Century – M. Longair, 2006, Cambridge University Press
Theoretical Concepts in Physics – 2nd Ed, M. Longair, 2008, Cambridge University Press
The Multicolour Universe
The night sky is our window onto the whole Universe. In this talk we go on a whistle-stop tour of all of astronomy! I talk about how studying the night sky using light of different colours (even colours the human eye cannot see), we can learn about planets, stars, galaxies and even some more exotic phenomena and how we can travel back in time to learn about the beginnings of the Universe.
The schools’ version of this talk is for KS3 students (separate groups of years 7, 8 and 9). This talk links ideas about waves, light, electromagnetism and chemistry to how we can see and learn about the universe around us, from stars and galaxies to more exotic phenomena like radio galaxies, pulsars and black holes.
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture
Schools’ version given at the Cambridge Science Festival Schools’ Hub (01/03/2012)
The night sky is our window onto the whole Universe. In this talk we go on a whistle-stop tour of all of astronomy! I talk about how studying the night sky using light of different colours (even colours the human eye cannot see), we can learn about planets, stars, galaxies and even some more exotic phenomena and how we can travel back in time to learn about the beginnings of the Universe.
Further Reading
The Cosmic Century – M. Longair, 2006, Cambridge University Press
Our Cosmic Habitat – M. Rees, 2001, Phoenix
The schools’ version of this talk is for KS3 students (separate groups of years 7, 8 and 9). This talk links ideas about waves, light, electromagnetism and chemistry to how we can see and learn about the universe around us, from stars and galaxies to more exotic phenomena like radio galaxies, pulsars and black holes.
Astronomy: The Next Hundred Years
The last century was a renaissance for astronomy. Our knowledge of the Universe on all scales advanced more rapidly than at any other point in history, from understanding stars and discovering new worlds to seeing distant galaxies. But what might the next hundred years have in store? Let’s discuss some of the biggest outstanding questions, new telescopes that are just around the corner and what amazing discoveries they might make.
Cunard Insights Programme Lecture (2014)
The last century was a renaissance for astronomy. Our knowledge of the Universe on all scales advanced more rapidly than at any other point in history, from understanding stars and discovering new worlds to seeing distant galaxies. But what might the next hundred years have in store? Let’s discuss some of the biggest outstanding questions, new telescopes that are just around the corner and what amazing discoveries they might make.
Astronomy from Space
While it is vital for life, the Earth's atmosphere often hinders the efforts of astronomers! In this talk, I explore what has been achieved by space telescopes, most notably the Hubble Space Telescope, operating high above the distorting effects of the atmosphere. While it just distorts images we see in visible light, the Earth's atmosphere totally blocks light from space at other wavelengths, so what can we see if we go into space?
BBC Stargazing Live Event, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge (09/01/2013)
While it is vital for life, the Earth's atmosphere often hinders the efforts of astronomers! In this talk, I explore what has been achieved by space telescopes, most notably the Hubble Space Telescope, operating high above the distorting effects of the atmosphere. While it just distorts images we see in visible light, the Earth's atmosphere totally blocks light from space at other wavelengths, so what can we see if we go into space?
50 Years of X-ray Astronomy
2012 saw the 50th anniversary of Giaconni's rocket flights and discoveries, beginning the field of X-ray astronomy. This talk gives an overview of the history of X-ray astronomy from 1962 and looking ahead to the future. I review past X-ray astronomy missions, explain some of the technology involved and explore the cutting edge science and discoveries made through astornomical X-ray observations.
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening, Cambridge (14/11/2012)
2012 saw the 50th anniversary of Giaconni's rocket flights and discoveries, beginning the field of X-ray astronomy. This talk gives an overview of the history of X-ray astronomy from 1962 and looking ahead to the future. I review past X-ray astronomy missions, explain some of the technology involved and explore the cutting edge science and discoveries made through astornomical X-ray observations.
Horrible Heavens: The Petrifying Planets
We explore the physical conditions (the temperatures, pressures, etc.) at different places in the solar system, from the surface of the Sun all the way out to Neptune and Pluto with a number of demonstrations including dry ice, liquid nitrogen and exploding hydrogen gas!
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening and Public Open Day, and Cambridge Science Festival Special Event (2011-13)
With Jonathan Crass
We explore the physical conditions (the temperatures, pressures, etc.) at different places in the solar system, from the surface of the Sun all the way out to Neptune and Pluto with a number of demonstrations including dry ice, liquid nitrogen and exploding hydrogen gas!
Born from the Stars: The Origin of the Elements
We spend a lot of time in astronomy exploring the Universe and how it all works, but here I ask where did it all come from? This talk explores the formation of the chemical elements after the big bang and through nuclear fusion in stars.
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening (17/11/2011)
We spend a lot of time in astronomy exploring the Universe and how it all works, but here I ask where did it all come from? This talk explores the formation of the chemical elements after the big bang and through nuclear fusion in stars.
Gravity: What’s the big attraction?
Talks for a general audience covering the concepts of gravity, from the Newtonian interpretation to an introduction to General Relativity and black holes. I also look at some of the more exotic effects of gravity and how gravity powers some of the most extreme phenomena in the Universe.
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening, Cambridge (12/01/2011)
Cambridge Astronomical Association and Hampshire Astronomical Group combined event (21/04/2011)
Talks for a general audience covering the concepts of gravity, from the Newtonian interpretation to an introduction to General Relativity and black holes. I also look at some of the more exotic effects of gravity and how gravity powers some of the most extreme phenomena in the Universe.
Planet Hunting, 19th Century Style
A historical look at the discovery of planets and the role of the Cambridge Observatories in the discovery of Neptune in 1846, featuring actors portraying the Victorian astronomers involved.
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening, Cambridge (15/12/2010)
With Stephanie Hunt, Jonathan Crass & James Mead
A historical look at the discovery of planets and the role of the Cambridge Observatories in the discovery of Neptune in 1846, featuring actors portraying the Victorian astronomers involved.
Observing the Earth from Space
A look at how we study the Earth from space using satellites, from weather forecasting to environmental science and plate tectonics with a look at how GPS navigation works.
Institute of Astronomy Public Observing Evening, Cambridge (31/03/2010)
A look at how we study the Earth from space using satellites, from weather forecasting to environmental science and plate tectonics with a look at how GPS navigation works.