The Origin of the Chemical Elements

General interest seminar

The Origin of the Chemical Elements

  • Event time: 5:00pm until 6:00pm
  • Event date: 2nd November 2023
  • Speaker: (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Elm Lecture Theatre, Nucleus Building, King's Buildings

Event details

All students and staff welcome.

Speaker 

Prof Marialuisa Aliotta, Senior Lecturer, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh.

The Origin of the Chemical Elements

Questions around the composition and origin of the universe have fascinated mankind since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the advent of Mendeleev’s periodic table in 1869 that it became clear how ordinary matter is made up of a finite number of different building blocks: the chemical elements. 

Yet, deeper questions have remained to our day: where, when, and how do the chemical elements originate? These are at the core of modern nuclear astrophysics research, an inter-disciplinary endeavour with inputs from almost every branch of physics. In this seminar, Prof Aliotta will take you through a journey of remarkable discoveries and breakthroughs that have shaped our understanding of the universe makeup and its chemical evolution. 

Refreshments

Meet us at 16.30 outside the Elm lecture theatre in the Nucleus Building for tea and cakes prior to the talk.

About General interest seminars

Our General Interest Seminars are an opportunity for distinguished speakers to present new research in physics and related areas. The material presented is suitable for undergraduate level upwards and all members of the School are welcome to attend..

Find out more about General interest seminars.