MIT School of Science Dean Nergis Mavalvala to Present Peterson Public Lecture in Physics

Nergis Mavalvala, Dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Science and Curtis and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics, will present the Chester Peterson, Jr. Public Lecture in Physics on Monday, September 23 at 4:30 p.m. in 103 Cardwell Hall. This lecture, “Gravitational Waves: A New Window to the Universe” will be presented at a non-technical level for a general audience.

Mavalvala will discuss her research which focuses on the detection of gravitational waves, from violent events in the cosmos that warp and ripple the fabric of space-time, including the quantum technology that makes measurement of gravitational waves on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) possible.

Dr. Mavalvala earned a BA in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College and a PhD in physics from MIT. She is the recipient of a 2010 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2017.

Mavalvala is part of the team that in early 2016 announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves from colliding black holes using the LIGO detectors, ushering in a new era in astrophysics. She has also conducted experiments in the optical trapping and cooling of mirrors to enable observation of quantum phenomena in macroscopic objects.

This non-technical lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. Students, faculty and community members are encouraged to attend to hear about this cutting-edge research. Refreshments will be served prior to the lecture at 4:00 p.m. in Room 119 of the Cardwell Hall.

This lecture series is supported by an endowment from Chester Peterson, Jr. aimed at publicizing cosmology or quantum mechanics.