Explore cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by question-and-answer period with the audience.

 

Winter/Spring 2024 Science Inquiry Series

Join us for our line-up of speakers for the Winter/Spring Science Inquiry Series.

Dr. Angela Des Jardins offers a preview of the upcoming “Great American Eclipse” in April and the effort of college students across the country to document it using high-altitude balloons.  Dr. Michael Reidy talks about the interplay of mountaineering and science in advancing important scientific issues.  Cassi Knight explains how dinosaur fossils are prepared for display and study and what plant fossils tell us about past climate.  Dr. Krishna Rupavatharam shares current research on photonics—the science of light—and its practical applications.  And Dr. Paul Nugent relates how the application of science and technology is improving yields in “precision agriculture.”  Check the Upcoming Presentations page for dates and details, and look below for news of the upcoming talk in the series.

 

Science Inquiry Series Explores the Science of Light

How do photons—quantum particles of light—enable diverse applications ranging from the well-known to the exotic?  Dr. Krishna Rupavatharam, Director of MSU’s Spectrum Lab, will address this question in the fourth presentation of the Winter/Spring 2024 Science Inquiry Series.

The talk will be presented in the Museum of the Rockies’ Hager Auditorium on Wednesday, April 24, at 6 pm.  It is sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Friends of the Sciences, co-sponsored by the non-profit community service organization Hopa Mountain, and hosted by the Museum of the Rockies.

The series explores cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by questions from the audience.  The talks are free to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.  Face masks are recommended but not required.

Image by Colter Peterson

In his presentation, titled “Telecommunications to Teleportation: Making Light Work,” Rupavatharam will share will share his experiences in photonics—the science of light—and how it can be manipulated for applications ranging from remote sensing and holographic imaging to quantum teleportation and communication.  He will also provide insights into the growth and evolution of the photonics ecosystem in Montana and innovative research at MSU.

Dr. Rupavatharam holds a Ph.D. in optical physics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.  He worked at the Lund Institute of Technology in Sweden before joining the MSU Spectrum Lab, which he currently directs while developing applications in coherent, microwave and quantum photonics.  He has authored numerous technical papers, holds multiple patents in microwave signal processing and coherent lidar, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance.

The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

 

Keep up on the world of science with this feature offering links to selected online articles in a variety of disciplines.

March’s Featured Article:

From The Washington Post:
How did life on Earth begin? The chemical puzzle just became clearer.

For additional article links, click on the “Science Link” tab above (under the banner).

 

Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash.

Click on the “Initiatives” tab above (under the banner) to learn about current science-based initiatives.  Current topic: climate change.

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