Campus Connection

David Gross to discuss quest for a unified theory of everything

David Gross won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004 for helping explain the force that ties together the smallest pieces of matter in the universe. It was a discovery that brought scientists a little closer to what’s considered the “holy grail” of modern physics — formulating a unified theory of physics — one that explains all of nature in a single theory. Gross plans to discuss whether such a unified theory is even possible during a public lecture at UW-La Crosse at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at in the Skogen Auditorium, 1400 Centennial Hall. A reception starts at 4:30 p.m. in Cameron Hall of Nations. Gross will also give a physics seminar on “The enduring legacy of Albert Einstein” at 3:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the same location. During the public lecture “The Frontiers of Fundamental Physics,” Gross will also explore some of the questions and proposed answers of fundamental physics, and how scientists might consider these ideas in moving forward toward a unified theory. “I think most people are fascinated to learn more about the universe, what it’s made of, how it began and how it works. These are questions we are addressing and we have many partial answers,” says Gross. “It’s the same reason people like to see pictures of the Mars mission. We are exploring the unknown.” Gross says finding a unified theory of physics makes sense because unification has worked well in the past. For example, the first great advance in physical science happened hundreds of years ago when Isaac Newton realized that the same universal force that made an apple fall from a tree was also responsible for the Earth orbiting the sun — gravity. “There is a feeling that to make progress, go even deeper and solve some of the outstanding problems, unification is required,” explains Gross. Gross’ Nobel-Prize winning discovery led scientists to complete another unified theory, The Standard Model. Gross, along with David Politzer and Frank Wilczek , discovered the strong force, which is the force that acts between quarks — the smallest particles of matter — inside the proton and neutron of an atom. That find is part of The Standard Model, which explains how building blocks of matter are governed by four fundamental forces: gravitational force, electromagnetism, the strong force and weak force. This lecture is part of UWL’s Distinguished Lecture Series that has brought Nobel-Prize winning physicists to campus for 16 years. The series has long acted as a “lighting rod” for the department, drawing people from all backgrounds to campus to learn and discuss physics at the highest level, says Gubbi Sudhakaran, chair of UWL’s Physics Department. People with little to no physics background are offered a glimpse into a scientific discipline that many perceive as too complex and mathematical to understand. “We often get comments from visitors who say that they have never gone to a scientific talk before, but were captivated by the topic and had to come see the Nobel Laureate,” says Sudhakaran. “The Distinguished Lecture Series has without a doubt contributed to the strong national reputation that our program has in providing a quality physics education and serving the community.” Students also meet and interact with someone who has achieved the ultimate level of success in physics, explains Sudhakaran. They learn about the Nobel Laureate’s career path and what inspired them while in college, he adds.

Physics seminar

A physics seminar on “The enduring legacy of Albert Einstein” will be at 3:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Skogen Auditorium A, 1400 Centennial Hall. As Einstein’s general theory of relativity marks its 100th birthday, Gross will discuss Einstein’s enduring legacy. The Einsteinian revolution forever changed the way people think about space-time and the universe and still shapes current research at the frontiers of fundamental physics and cosmology.

David Gross

Gross is the Frederick Gluck Professor of Theoretical Physics and former Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at University of California, Santa Barbara. He has been a central figure in particle physics and string theory. He was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics with two others.

UWL Physics

The UWL Physics Department, with 175 majors, is one of the largest undergraduate physics programs in Wisconsin. The department has been recognized statewide for its excellence in teaching and featured in national publications and reports for its successful reputation. UWL’s program granted 31 physics degrees annually between 2011-13, making it No. 1 in the nation for awarding physics degrees among bachelor’s degree granting institutions on the American Physical Society list. The American Physical Society also recognized the department with the 2013 Improving Undergraduate Physics Education Award, one of only four such awards granted annually. Learn more at www.uwlax.edu/physics. The Distinguished Lecture Series in Physics is funded by private gifts to the UW-La Crosse Foundation Inc. and through support from the Department of Physics, the College of Science and Health and Wettstein’s.

If you go —

What: Public lecture on “The Frontiers of Fundamental Physics” Who: David Gross, Nobel prize winning physicist Where: Skogen Auditorium A., 1400 Centennial Hall When: 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 Admission: Free What: Physics Seminar “The enduring legacy of Albert Einstein” Who: David Gross, Nobel prize winning physicist Where: Skogen Auditorium A., 1400 Centennial Hall When: 3:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 Admission: Free