Astronomy on the Cusp: A Subject Driven by Progress in Technology
A public talk by Prof. S. R. Kulkarni, Jury Chair - Physical Sciences, Infosys Prize
Lecture on 7th December 2011, Convention Centre, Infosys Campus, Bangalore
About the talk
Astronomy enjoys the double reputation of being the second oldest profession and a romantic subject. Astronomy, by all accounts, is currently in its golden phase with even greater promises as we start this new decade. What is less well known and less appreciated is that astronomy is now one of the most expensive sciences and that astronomy both contributes to high technology (e.g. CCDs and sensors, radio engineering, explosion modeling) and is a major beneficiary of technological gains (primarily Moore's law, rapid developments in sensor science and technology and the law of synergistic returns). The speaker will first summarize the state (composition of the Universe, the buildup of elements since Big Bang, strong gravity) of the field and then remark on the future interplay between astronomy and technology.
The talk was originally given to practicing engineers and managers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Teledynce Corporation Headquarters. It appeared to have been quite informative, educational and even entertaining.
Biography
S. R. Kulkarni is the McArthur Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Director of the Caltech Optical Observatories (which include the Palomar Observatory, California and the W. M. Keck Observatory, Mauna Kea, Hawaii and the Thirty Meter Telescope project). Prof. Kulkarni has focused on two areas: the death of stars and the search for extra-solar planets.
Prof. Kulkarni is a member of the US National Academy of Science, Fellow of the Royal Society of London and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
His awards and recognition include: Alan Waterman Prize (US National Science Foundation), Distinguished Alumni Prize (Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), Eddington Lecturer (University of Cambridge, UK), Jansky Lecturer (Associated Universities, Inc.), AD White Professor-at-Large (Cornell University), a Packard Foundation Fellowship, the Vainu Bappu Award of Indian Astronomical Society and the Helen B. Warner Prize of the American Astronomical Society.
