Astrophysics: The Largest Unknowns and the Biggest Challenges

Wed Apr 15 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm UTC-07:00

Rio Theatre | Santa Cruz

UCSC Astronomy Department
Publisher/HostUCSC Astronomy Department
Astrophysics: The Largest Unknowns and the Biggest Challenges
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UCSC Professor Alexie Leauthaud will discuss her groundbreaking work understanding the past and future of our universe.
About this Event

In this exciting public lecture, Professor Alexie Leauthaud will discuss some of the largest challenges and unknowns in Astrophysics. She will present the latest results on the nature of our universe, including groundbreaking and prize-winning new results on the nature of dark energy. Leauthaud will discuss our current understanding of the basic ingredients of our Universe and will explain why recent results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Collaboration (DESI) collaboration made international headline news earlier this year.

She will speculate on what this might mean for the future of our Universe. Professor Leauthaud will discuss other top challenges facing the profession, including political headwinds, recent attacks on science and funding, and will also explain why astronomers are increasingly becoming involved in the fight against climate change. She will discuss her own journey in recognizing the predicament of life on this blue planet will conclude with a big picture view of the challenges that lie ahead.

The Mandel Lecture is free and open to the public. Arrive early, seating is limited.

This public talk is presented by the UCSC Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and UC Observatories, and presented as part of the Mandel Lecture series, which promotes public awareness of and appreciate for astronomy. We seek your help and support in keeping these lecture going. For more information on giving, please visit https://astronomy.ucsc.edu/give/.

For more information or for diability-related needs, please email [email protected].

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00

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