Most of our universe is missing! Adventures in the dark side of the cosmos Free Public Lecture

Time: 8:00pm, Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Location: Braggs Lecture Theatre, University of Adelaide

Summary: Most of the cosmos, astronomers tell us, appears to be missing! They say it is dominated by an invisible dark side, dark matter and dark energy that have shaped the evolution of the entire universe. But why do astronomers believe there is this mysterious invisible cosmos surrounding us? In this talk, we will take a tour of the dark side, and explore the observations that reveal its presence. To understand the true nature of dark matter and dark energy, we will delve into the wealth of ideas and theories, and the current experiments underway to separate the true contenders from the scientific also-rans. Finally, we will peer into the future to reveal the next steps physicists and astronomers will take in their quest to shine a light into our cosmological dark side.

Born and raised in Old South Wales and with a passion for astrophysics, Geraint Lewis spends his time unravelling the dark side of the universe, the dark matter and dark energy that dominate the cosmos. As a Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute of Astronomy, his research focuses upon cosmology, gravitational lensing and galactic cannibalism, as well as exploring why our universe appears to be just right for complexity and life, publishing more than four hundred research articles. He also undertakes a broad array of award-winning science outreach, bringing the wonders of the cosmos to broad audiences through public speaking and writing, including publishing several world- renowned books on the mysteries of the cosmos.