TAMIU Lecturer Questions Our Understanding of Universe April 15

Texas A&M International University College of Arts and Sciences Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences will host a special lecture, “The VIRUS Spectrograph on HET-The World’s Fastest, Most Cost-Effective Tools for Studying Dark Energy and Dark Matter” on Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

This event, sponsored by Guillermo Benavides Z, is free and open to the public.

Guest speaker Dr. Gary J. Hill, senior research scientist and chief astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory, will explain how the VIRUS spectrograph, at the core of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX), will grant the greatest means in the world for studying dark matter and dark energy, while saving money and reducing the engineering risk.

Dr. Hill is featured in the April 2008 issue of Texas Monthly Magazine with a story focused on his theory on solving the mystery of dark energy and occurrence that could disclose the origins of the universe.

Hill studied physics at Oxford University. From there, his interest in astronomy led him to complete his master’s and doctorate at the University of Hawaii. In five years, Hill spent more than 100 nights at 14,000 feet on Mauna Kea observing stars.

In 1988, he came to Texas as an McDonald Fellow and started working with McDonald telescopes, building instruments that concluded with the Low Resolution Spectrograph for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) that was the first facility instrument to be delivered.

For more information, contact the College of Arts and Sciences, Office of the Dean, at the 326.2460 or visit offices in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 301.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu