Nobel laureate to speak on the mysteries of the flow of time
Sir Anthony J. Leggett
BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 16, 2012 – Sir Anthony Leggett, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and MacArthur Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present a public lecture on quantum physics on March 22. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Assembly Hall at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.
Leggett’s visit is sponsored by the Department of Physics in the College of Science and the college’s Institute for Advanced Study.
Leggett was co-recipient, along with V.L. Ginzburg and A.A. Abrikosov, of the Nobel Prize in physics in 2003 for his contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids. His work on theories of matter explores the connection between microscopic quantum effects and our everyday world. Leggett is particularly known for his contributions to the theory of superflow, which is the flow of matter without friction. His talk will show to a broad public audience how physicists use quantum mechanics to unlock profound mysteries of nature.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, Leggett’s numerous accolades include the 2002-03 Wolf Foundation Prize, with B.I. Halperin, for his work on condensed matter theory. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to physics and is also a member of the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the American Physical Society, and the American Institute of Physics. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics (United Kingdom).
Leggett’s presentation is free and open to the public. Free parking is available. More parking information and a campus map are available online.
The College of Science at Virginia Tech gives students a comprehensive foundation in the scientific method. Outstanding faculty members teach courses and conduct research in biological sciences, chemistry, economics, geosciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and statistics. The college offers programs in cutting-edge areas including, among others, those in energy and the environment, developmental science across the lifespan, infectious diseases, computational science, nanoscience, and neuroscience. The College of Science is dedicated to fostering a research-intensive environment that promotes scientific inquiry and outreach.
- Catherine Doss
- Communications Specialist, University Relations
- 540-231-5396
- vtnews@vt.edu
