Liquid Mirror Telescopes: Wave of the Future (or just a ripple)

https://www.youtube.com/live/kl6gTpSzFIY

A novel design first envisioned more than 150 years ago, Liquid Mirror Telescopes (LMTs) might seem something out of science fiction. As part of his postgraduate degree, Professor Brad Gibson designed, constructed, and tested the world’s first functional LMT observatory. He will describe the LMT concept and its weird and wonderful strengths (and weaknesses), and provide some insights into why the concept has not succeeded in replacing the classic glass and aluminum constructs.

An Aussie-Canadian transplant, Dr Brad Gibson is Scientific Editor for The Astrophysical Journal and previously served as Head of Physics & Maths and Director & Founder of the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics, at the University of Hull, Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, and Deputy Head of School at Swinburne University in Australia. Brad’s team was responsible for first defining the Milky Way’s Galactic Habitable Zone (named a Top 10 News Story of the Year by National Geographic), determining the expansion rate of the Universe (for which their team was awarded the Gruber Prize in Cosmology), and building the world’s first Liquid Mirror Telescope Observatory. Brad’s 1000+ outreach events over the past 7 years have reached two million people around the world, including 70,000+ students at more than 100 schools and colleges throughout the UK. His commitment to widening participation from underrepresented groups, and improving the career prospects of physics students, led to his “Changing Face of Physics” campaign being named Best Practice in the Country by the UK’s Equality Challenge Unit.

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