ANN ARBOR—Back by popular demand, the University of Michigan Department of Physics has organized a second series of its Saturday morning multi-media physics lectures for general audiences. Beginning Oct. 12, the lectures will present physicists explaining their work in easy-to-understand, non- technical terms. All lectures will take place on Saturdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., in 170 Dennison Building, 501 E. University, on the U-M’s Central Campus. Coffee and refreshments will be available. All lectures are free and open to the public. High school students are especially encouraged to attend.

“Our goal is to share the excitement and demonstrate the importance of contemporary research in physics with people who appreciate the thrill of discovery,” said Timothy A. McKay, U-M assistant professor of physics and co-organizer of the series. “Research fellows live day and night in their labs and have a particularly personal, intimate relationship with their work which makes for a great presentation,” said Dante Amidei, U-M associate professor of physics. “The response last year was very positive, and we are excited about returning this fall with three completely new topics.”

The Saturday morning lecture series is sponsored by the U-M Department of Physics and M. Lois Tiffany of Ann Arbor, who received her U-M master’s degree in physics in 1946 and a U-M Ph.D. degree in biophysics in 1971. Lectures, speakers and topics scheduled:

The Physical Cell—Oct. 12, 19 and 26 Fred Gittes, Physics Research Fellow The biological cell is a complex system of tiny physical machines with properties that confound modern science. Gittes will describe the laser systems and micromechanical tools of biophysics and what they reveal about the astonishing molecular machines that make up all life.

Quarks: Pieces of Everything—Nov. 2, 9 and 16 Steve Vejcik, Physics Research Fellow Vejcik will explain our current understanding of quarks and leptons—the fundamental building blocks of everything in the universe. He will show how giant machines and detectors were used to probe the smallest of distances and find a top quark, and why our current theories leave us still wondering about the nature of matter, space and time.

The Laser—Nov. 23, Dec. 7 and 14 Marc Nantel, Physics Research Fellow Whether at the cutting edge of modern physics or in your own home, lasers are redefining science and our lives. Here at U-M, Nantel works with some of the fastest and brightest lasers in the world. In his laser show, Nantel will explain what they are, how they work and how they can be used to transmit voices, produce X- rays and create a photon torpedo.

Dante AmideiU-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan