Autumn Conference: A New Universe for a New Millennium. Halton Arp, Wal Thornhill

The Autumn Conference of
The Society for Interdisciplinary Studies
At University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT. UK
10:30am - 5pm Saturday 21st October 2000. Ticket only

A New Universe for a New Millennium?

Halton C Arp
Observational Cosmology Impacts Modern Physics

Wal Thornhill
On an 'Electric Universe'

Programme

11.00 - 12.00. Halton C Arp: 'Observational Cosmology Impacts Modern Physics'

For some forty years Halton Arp has been a keen observer of strange galaxies. His conclusion that supposedly remote quasars are actually connected to nearby galaxies by observable streams of gas, saw him branded a heretic and exiled from academia in the USA. This also implies that redshift is not an indicator of velocity, quasars are not the brightest and most remote objects in the universe but are nearby, and hence the reasoning regarding redshifts and the Big Bang hypothesis immediately collapses. He is now an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics in West Germany. His earliest published work was the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies (1963) -- his latest is Seeing Red.

From Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies

1.45 - 2.45. Wal Thornhill: on an 'Electric Universe'
The Electric Universe model forms a coherent new Big Picture of the universe. It highlights repeated electrical patterns at all scales that enable laboratory experiments to explain the strange energetic events seen, for example, in deep space, on the Sun and on Jupiter's moon, Io. The model follows Hannes Alfvén's entreaty for scientists to work backward in time using observations rather than forward from some idealised theoretical beginning. The Electric Universe takes full account of the basic electrical nature of atoms and their interactions. In conventional cosmology, it is the weaker magnetism and the almost infinitely weak force of gravity which rule the cosmos.

The Electric Universe grew out of an interdisciplinary approach to science and the realization that a new plasma cosmology and an understanding of electrical phenomena in space could illuminate work being done in comparative mythology. By using information from a wide span of human existence and knowledge, the Electric Universe can provide answers to many questions that seem unrelated. For example, records of the prehistoric sky can help unravel the recent history of the planets. And the planets bear witness with pristine scars of cosmic encounters. The result is an exciting "Big Picture" that emphasizes our dramatic prehistory and essential connection with the universe.

The active Sun

Solar Magnetic Arcade
3.15- 4.15 - Open Forum

Conference Details

A New Universe for a New Millennium?
11am - 5pm Saturday 21st October 2000, Doors open 10.30am.
University College London, Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre.

Costs and how to Book

SIS Members
Admission is free to members of the Society for Interdisciplinary Studies who may also bring one visitor free. Members MUST write to the SIS Membership Secretary to request tickets.
Non members can join at the same time as they purchase their ticket, details below.
Non SIS members:

Admission is Ł10.00 (about US$16.00) plus a 6% credit card service charge = 60p (total Ł10.60)
Tickets MUST be purchased in advance.
Tickets MUST be purchased online:

Go to the Web site of Society for Interdisciplinary Studies at www.knowledge.co.uk/sis/
From the menu on the left, choose: "Join the SIS, Back Issues, Contact details"
Scroll down the page to "Payment Methods", and choose option "1. Order Online"
Scroll down to "Section 5.Other purchases", and enter "Autumn Conference", and Ł10 per ticket
Complete the remainder of the form.

Refreshments:

The UCL Refectory is closed on Saturdays so you may wish to bring a packed lunch to eat in nearby grounds (please note UCL do not wish packed lunches eaten on the promises). Others may prefer eating out at a local restaurant or fast food place and an extended lunch break has been given for this purpose. Details of nearby eating places (Tottenham Court Road has several) provided on arrival.

Travel and Parking

University College London, is at:
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT. UK Please click here for a Map
By Train: UCL in Gower Street is a few mins. walk from Euston Square (Circle and Metropolitan lines) and c. 5-8 mins. walk from Goodge Street (Northern line) tube stations. It is approx. 10 mins. walk from Russell Square tube station (Piccadilly line) Tottenham Court Road tube station (Northern and Central lines) and main line Euston Station (Northern and Victoria lines). King's Cross and St Pancras main line stations are a short bus, or tube, ride away.
Details at London Transport.

By Bus: Nos. 10, 24, 30 and 73 stop in Gower Street. Nos. 14, 18, 29, 68, 74, 91, 134, 135, 168, 176, 188 and 253 stop nearby (but -you should check nearer the time, to make sure routes are still operating.
Details at London Transport.

Parking: Parking zone fees are applicable on Saturday between 8.30am and 6.30pm. National Car Parks are situated in the YMCA on Great Russell Street, Woburn Place and, also in the Brunswick Centre in Marchmont Street. There are further car parks under Euston and St Pancras stations.