Alexei Filippenko: “Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe"

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The University of New Orleans and the Pontchartrain Astronomical Society are pleased to welcome world-renowned astrophysicist Alexei Filippenko to the University of New Orleans Lakefront Campus this month. Science lovers of all ages should take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience the tour de
force lecture style of one of the greatest astronomers of our time.

Filippenko was the only individual to work on both of the teams responsible for discovering that the universe’s expansion is actually accelerating — a discovery awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011 and lately awarded the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

His talk, which will serve as the headline event for "Einstein Week" at the University of New Orleans, will explore his teams’ findings as well as the causal agent of this acceleration, a “dark energy" that stretches space faster with time and makes up approximately 70 percent of the universe.

Considered one of the greatest mysteries of the physical world, the origin of dark energy may provide clues to a unified quantum theory of gravity.

As an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and the recipient of the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization, Filippenko has made over 100 appearances in documentaries including The History Channel’s “The Universe,” “Stephen Hawking’s Universe,” “Mysteries of Deep Space” and “Exploring Time,” as well as produced five video courses with The Great Courses and co-authored the award-winning textbook, “The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millenium.”

Known for his ability to convey complex ideas in simple terms, Filippenko is a beloved professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was voted the best professor on campus a record nine times by students.

His introductory astronomy course for non-science majors received the Richard H. Emmons Award in 2010. In 2006, Filippenko was named "U.S. Professor of the Year" by the Carnegie Foundation.

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Filippenko’s lecture will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the University Center Grand Ballroom with a book signing to follow until 10 p.m. Admission is free to the public and seating begins at 6:30 p.m.

Raffle tickets to win prizes — including a telescope signed by Dr. Filippenko — will be available for purchase at the event.