All members of Psistar are invited to a FREE talk by Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams
"The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos"
6.30pm Tuesday 10th October in the Mason Lecture Theatre, Bancroft Building, Queen Mary.
The lecture is accessible to both beginners and experts in the field, and will be of particular interest to members of Psistar.
A synopsis of the lecture is as follows:
"Cosmology is going through a scientific revolution that is creating humanity's first picture of the universe that might actually be true. This lecture explains and visualizes the evolution of the Universe, the fact that the universe is made mostly of dark matter and dark energy with visible matter making up only about half a percent of the total, and the remarkable fact that humans - and indeed intelligent life anywhere in the universe - must have a size that is in the middle of all possible size scales. Joel and Nancy alternate frequently during the presentation, presenting scientific and philosophical viewpoints. They show spectacular new images and videos, using both updated ancient symbols and the latest astronomical data and simulations. They also use humorous cartoons to illustrate how cosmological ideas have widespread cultural implications. The talk is both entertaining and educational, and it can be enjoyed by everyone from people who know nothing about modern astronomy to experts in the field.
Joel Primack, Professor of Physics at UCSC, is one of the world's leading cosmologists and an originator and developer of the theory of evolution of the Universe. He and his team use some of the world's biggest supercomputers to simulate the evolution of the Universe, and they compare the results with observational data. Nancy Abrams is a lawyer, writer, and former Fulbright scholar, with a long-term interest in the history, philosophy, and politics of science. Whileworking on the staff of the U.S. Congress, she co-created a novel method by which government agencies can make wise policy decisions in cases involving scientific uncertainty."
Tomorrow will be a wonderful day, filled with lay-ins, the odd lecture perhaps, and then CHINESE FOOD! Yes we love a bit of chinese every now and then.
On wedneday the 4th we will be indulging ourselves at our favorite Chinese Buffet, Wings.
We'll be meeting at 2pm in the physics department foyer and then traversing the Burdett road to get to our destination where there will be rice, noodles and as much jelly as Fletch can stuff up his nose, all for a measly £5.90 or something like that.
Hello Freshers and all returning PsiStarians! On monday you'll be experiencing the joy of lectures so by wednesday you'll be shattered, let us numb the pain with our Freshers Tea! Come along to the Physics Department on wedneday at 2pm, and in the museum on the first floor there'll be a variety of snacks and delights for you. You'll have the chance to meet the PsiStar committee, other members and some of the Physics lecturers on a more informal basis. When the snacks run out we'll be off to our favoutite old haunt - the Drapers Arms. The last wedneday of every month is the sacred night of Hail Mary, a special night for clubs and societies. PsiStar is regarded as the only club-like society in the union and so we have the priviledge of our own table at the drinking games, where I hope a few of you will get up on stage and make us proud! We're looking forward to meeting you all so see you wednesday!
And welcome to the start of the new academic year. You should all be back at Uni by now, enjoying Freshers' week. This is a quick note to say that if you haven't seen us around Uni already, then come say "hi" at the Freshers' Fayre on Wednesday and Thursday this week from 10am until 4pm.
We'll be sporting our shirts so feel free to don yours too and if you want to avoid the maniacal fayre, join us for a drink both evenings and perhaps even a dance in e1. For details of their events check their webpage.
Firstly, I'd like to say a huge sorry for the lack of updates in the last couple of months, specifically since Easter, as it has been the exam period during which time everyone tends to be doing approximately a year's worth of work in attempts to make it to the next year, which I'm sure you understand.
Secondly, I would like to apologise for the fall of the Alton Tower's trip. The dates that we decided on filled up before we had a chance to book any tickets. If people are still interested we can organise a day over the summer to get together and go off to London although the overall costs will be greater as each person will be responsible for getting into London first.
And finally as it's summer again and we are rearrange the committee whilst attempt to organise a holiday, the bulletins are pretty inactive but if you want to find out more about us or if you know who we are and want to chat, visit our forums.
Hope you all have a good summer where ever you are and if you're graduating this June, keep in touch.
Hope you're all having a good Easter, plenty of enjoyment before the dreaded exams :o)
To give you something to look forward to, we would like to announce a TRIP TO ALTON TOWERS!! on the 5th June. It's an all day event starting at 6:45am outside physics and we'll be back well into the evening. It includes the train up to stoke-on-trent, a bus to the park and entrance, all for only £35.50. Food and drink is not included but we may be able to discount the cost a little.
For more information check out the dedicated page by clicking on the button above.
If this isn't for you, you can still go paintballing and because we prooved last year, it's fun to get together during the holidays, we're organising another PSISTAR HOLIDAY this summer, details to be decided, but coming soon.
Just to inform everyone that photo's from the Egg Lander challenge are now up in the gallery under the challenge section, thanks to Rosie for uploading her photo's, hopefully Nic will upload any she has when she gets some time.
Also PsiStar would like to say a big thanks to Denis from the Shisha society for the DVD of the goonies which he lent us.
Little update on the Paintball, could everyone who is interested in going go pay your deposits to Kate AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, we currently have 5 people who have paid their deposits (including me), but I need a few more before I'll book the event as it involves PsiStar paying for everyone in full 10 days in advance. Current rough guess on the date is the weekend of the 22nd/23rd April, hopefully it should provide some good relief from the weeks of revision you all should have been doing
Firstly the gallery has been updated with photos from the AGM, Ale Trail and Colours and Honours. Go take a look if you want to see some drunk people making fools of themselves.
Next, a bit of upcoming news for you all.
quote (Steve's Email):
Hi everybody,
Thanks for the fantastic turn out at our SemiNar, it was a great talk and very educating for me especially. I thought I would email everyone early this week since we have a very special E-Star celebration next week. On Wednesday 29th March PsiStar hosts the Second annual Egg drop(!) followed by a bootleg cinema of 'The Goonies' in PLT. There are several rules to the Egg drop(!) ;
1) The first rule about Egg drop(!) is that you do not speak about Egg drop(!). 2) The second rule about Egg drop(!) is that you do not speak about Egg drop(!). 3) The third rule about Egg drop(!) is no devices that slow down the eggs fall, this includes parachutes, propellers, flying toys, helium balloons, ropes and bungees. 4) The fourth and final rule about Egg drop(!) is that for this year, no bubble wrap....
how about trying out an elastic band type suspension? Special awards for:
* The egg that most resembles you * Happiest little mess * best egg lander design * 'the James award' * and this year only a prize for the person who uses the most edible material...
Of course everyone whose egg survives gets a prize too!
So I hope that you will get your eager brains in gear and turn up next week. I will unfortunately be away but you may direct all queries to Next years Practical Physics Officer, David 'the spanker' Fletcher.
Adios!
Steve 'This email does not contradict rules 1) and 2) of Egg drop(!)' Hudziak
Also I would like people to get their arse's in gear and go pay the deposit for the paintball if you signed up, time is seriously running out!!
This week PsiStar explored the Natural History Museum and had a ruddy good time! Next week however we would like to invite you all to a special SemiNar given by Dr Theo Kreouzis. You are all invited to join us in 112 (physics 1st floor) on wednesday the 22nd March at 2.15pm. The seminar will start at 2.30pm sharp and drinks and snacks will be available. Theo works in the molecular and material physics group and is perhaps the best time of flight expert ever! His talk will be for the layman and will explain how organic molecules are becoming more popular than silicon and other more conventional inorganic devices. Below is a formal abstract:
"Organic electronics"
Traditional semiconductor electronics use inorganic materials such as crystalline Silicon and group III and group V elements. Over the past twenty or so years great advances have been made in the use of non-traditional organic semiconductors in devices such as xerographic drums, LEDs, FETs and Photovoltaics. The basic principles of organic electronics will be introduced, as well as the operation of actual organic semiconductor devices, outlining the differences and similarities between the organic and inorganic cases.
Please please come along, I promise it won't be boring, who knows you might learn something...
I hope you are all having a good weekend. I apologize for the late email but things have been hectic at PsiStar HQ. Next Wednesday, 15th of March, we will be venturing into the world of the Prehistoric as we embark on a journey to the famous Natural History Museum. There is a huge amount of things to see there and we hope to wet your taste buds for paleontology. Meet up at 2pm in the physics foyer, from there we will travel to south Kensington and the Museum itself. You will need a zone 1 return (oyster cards are cheaper), but the museum is free to enter. We should have plenty of time to wander around but we should try to leave ASAP from campus, so get there early!
It should be a great day out, hope to see you there, take care,
Steve 'Dinosaurs rocked so hard that they became extinct' Hudziak
