"The Unexpected Universe: Astronomical Telescopes
Continue to Reveal New Surprises"

Prof. Wendy Freedman

John & Marion Sullivan University Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago
Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics

Northwestern’s Cahn Auditorium

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Wendy Freedman's research is in observational cosmology (measures of the expansion rate of the universe using the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope and the ground-based Magellan telescope). Her current projects involve measurements of the Hubble constant -- the current expansion rate, as well as the past expansion rate, providing constraints on the acceleration of the universe and dark energy. Her other field of interest is the stellar populations of galaxies, the evolution of galaxies, and the initial mass function.

Talk Abstract:
Cosmology in recent decades has been undergoing a revolution. Astronomers have for the first time identified the major constituents of the universe, revealing a universe that hardly resembles what we thought only a few decades ago. It is filled with dark matter that is not visible and energy that permeates all of space, causing its expansion to speed up with time. Thousands of planets are now being discovered beyond our Solar System. New giant telescopes planned for the next decade are likely to reveal more surprises. In her lecture, Professor Freedman will describe these exciting advances.

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