Campus Connection

Renowned Physicist to share insights at free, public events on campus

In the ever-unfolding quest to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, few have made as profound an impact as James Peebles. The 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physics, renowned for his groundbreaking work in theoretical cosmology, will be visiting UW-La Crosse Oct. 3-4 to share his insights on the expanding universe and the nature of scientific inquiry. 

Peebles, a professor emeritus at Princeton University, is celebrated for his pivotal contributions to the understanding of the universe's structure and history. His theoretical framework, developed since the mid-1960s, laid the foundation for cosmological concepts, including primordial nucleosynthesis, dark matter, the cosmic microwave background, and structure formation. His work earned him the Nobel Prize in 2019, alongside two other scientists who the Nobel judges said, “transformed our ideas about the cosmos.” 

Peebles will give a free public lecture "The Universe is Expanding" at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 3, in Skogen Auditorium A, located in 1400 Centennial Hall. In this lecture, Peebles will delve into the concept of the universe's expansion, tracing its historical development, and presenting the evidence that supports this transformative idea. The lecture will also include a Q&A session. 

Peebles will also present a physics seminar "The Physicists’ Philosophy of Physics" at 3:20 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, also in Skogen Auditorium A, Centennial Hall. The seminar will explore the philosophical underpinnings of the physicist’s approach to physics. Peebles will offer a short statement of this philosophy, present examples, and discuss the broader implications of these practices from the perspectives of philosophers and sociologists. 

Both events are free and open to the public, though seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, especially large groups, to secure a place.  

The UWL Distinguished Lecture Series in Physics, which hosts Peebles' visit, is made possible through private donations to the UW-La Crosse Foundation, with additional support from the Department of Physics and the College of Science and Health. This annual series aims to inspire and educate students, faculty, and the community by bringing eminent physicists to La Crosse to share their significant achievements and insights. 

About UWL Physics 

The UWL Physics Department is one of the largest undergraduate physics programs in Wisconsin. The department offers a B.S. in physics with the options of emphases in applied physics, astronomy, computational physics and optics, as well as physics majors with business, or secondary education concentrations. The department has a dual-degree program (physics and engineering) in cooperation with the engineering programs at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW- Platteville, UW-Stout, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Winona State University. The department is active in undergraduate research, its faculty and students regularly publish their work in peer-reviewed journals and give presentations at meetings and conferences. The department has received wide recognition for teaching excellence and preparation of physics graduates.  The American Physical Society has recognized the department with the 2013 Improving Undergraduate Physics Education Award, one of only four such awards granted annually. Learn more about UWL’s Physics Department at www.uwlax.edu/physics. 

Parking: Free parking available in commuter lot C-2 (near the stadium) for Thursday’s Public Lecture only.

For further information contact Jennifer Docktor jdocktor@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8485.