6/24, 7/8, Science Cafe "Universe"

April 21, 2017
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)

Kavli IPMU and Tamarokuto Science Center will co-host a siries of Science Cafes on Saturday, June 24 and Saturday, July 8 at Tamarokuto Science Center. For this year both will be held in English. Pre-registration is required. Dowonload the leaflet here.


"Soap bubbles, spacetime, and structures"
William Donovan (Kavli IPMU Project Researcher)

Date &Time: Saturday, June 24, 2017, 14:00-15:30
Venue: Tamarokuto Science Center, Event Hall
(18 minutes walk from Hanakoganei Station, Hanabus goes to Tamarokuto Science Center from Hanakoganei and Tanashi Station)
5-10-64 Shibakubocho, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Admission: 500 Yen; Admission Fee for Tamarokuto Science Center (Free for Junior-high and High school students)
Language: English
Seat: 48 (prior registration required) Click here to register.
Hosted by: Kavli IPMU, Tamarokuto Science Center

What’s the link between soap bubbles, and Einstein’s theory of relativity? The answer is the mathematical idea of “curvature”: how much things bend. The shape of a soap bubble is set by simple equations which relate the bending of its surface with the force pushing on it; the equations of general relativity relate the bending of space and time with the presence of mass and energy. We’ll investigate this by experiments with soap bubbles to explain their surprising shapes, and see how the same mathematics can help us build elegant structures, and smart transport networks.

*Closing date for the registration : June 12, 2017
*Registration form is available only in Japanese.


"The birth, growth, and death of galaxies"
David Stark (Kavli IPMU Project Researcher)

Date &Time: Saturday, July 8, 2017, 14:00-15:30
Venue: Tamarokuto Science Center, Science Lab
(18 minutes walk from Hanakoganei Station, Hanabus goes to Tamarokuto Science Center from Hanakoganei and Tanashi Station)
5-10-64 Shibakubocho, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Admission: 500 Yen; Admission Fee for Tamarokuto Science Center (Free for Junior-high and High school students)
Language: English
Seat: 48 (prior registration required) Click here to register.
Hosted by: Kavli IPMU, Tamarokuto Science Center

The present day population of galaxies is very diverse. While some galaxies are full of gas and vigorously forming stars, others lost their gaseous fuel and stopped forming stars billions of years ago. But what causes galaxies to have such diverse behavior? I will discuss our current understanding of how galaxies form and grow over time, as well as what causes them to cease forming new stars and "die".  I will talk about some of my own research that explores these processes, and highlight some open questions that astrophysicists are still working to answer.

*Closing date for the registration : June 26, 2017
*Registration form is available only in Japanese.


Further Inquiry: Please contact to Kavli IPMU Public Relations office (koukai-kouza_at_ipmu.jp)
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