STIAS and NITheP invite you to an ASSAf sponsored Public Lecture

"Under a lucky star? If so, find out what is so special about our Sun."

By ASSAf Distinguished Visiting Scholar and Astrophysicist Prof Bengt Gustafsson

Date:

Time:

Venue:

RSVP:

18 February 2015

17h30 for 18h00

STIAS Auditorium 1 renekotze@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2653 by 11 February. (Limited seating is available.)

Agenda:

18h00:

18h10:

18h50:

19h00:

Welcome and introductory remarks by Prof Hendrik Geyer, STIAS Director

Public Lecture

Questions

Networking/refreshments

Abstract:

The Sun is sometimes regarded to be a fairly normal star. When scrutinised, however, it stands out with respect to other solar-type stars. For instance, it is a single star and it seems to be relatively metal-rich for its age. Also, its chemical composition is characterised by having a significantly higher ratio of volatile relative to refractory chemical elements, i.e. the ratio of, e.g., C, N, S, Zn, relative Ti, Sc, Zr and Al, is higher than normal for the Sun. Some possible reasons for this and other solar special characteristics are discussed. One possibility is that this solar peculiarity is even linked to the existence of habitable planets in the Solar system.

Information:

About Prof Bengt Gustafsson

Prof Bengt Gustafsson is doing research in stellar physics, in particular studying stellar spectra and stellar atmospheres, as well as in Galactic evolution. He is the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Distinguished Visiting Scholar for 2014/2015. Prof Gustafsson has spent many years popularising science and astronomy in the media, both in Sweden and internationally, and has held posts as professor in Stockholm and Uppsala Universities, and is Corresponding Fellow at the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics. He has served on the Nobel Committee for Physics, and is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Science. The international community has benefited from his service to ICSU (International Council for Science) for which he co-chaired a review committee on Science and Society, and chaired the committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the Conduct of Science. He has received the Lars Salvius Prize and the Nils Gustav Rosén Prize, the foremost Swedish award for popularisation of science, in recognition of these activities.