KITP News Archive

Santa Barbara, Calif. - David J. Gross, director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) and the first incumbent of the Frederick W. Gluck Chair in Theoretical Physics at the University of California at Santa Barbara, has been awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics for solving in 1973 the last great remaining problem of what has since come to be called "the Standard Model" of the quantum mechanical picture of reality. He and his co-recipients discovered how the nucleus of atoms works.

Scientific discoveries are increasingly in the news, but are increasingly complex while their impact on our lives is profound. The need for communicating science across the intellectual spectrum is imperative, and increasingly ideas from science are integrated into film, fiction, plays and other non-scientific writing. In 2002 the Templeton Lectures were presented at the KITP to packed audiences, and in 2005 the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation sponsored the prestigious conference Science Theater Audience Reader (STAR): Theoretical Physics in Drama and Narrative. Playwrights, actors, literature and drama scholars, novelists, biographers and science journalists explored the means by which science concepts are conveyed to the public in a variety of media. Among conference participants were Alan Lightman. Rebecca Goldstein, Peter Galison, Lauren Gunderson, Dennis Overbye and Anthony Zee.

Santa Barbara, Calif.--Joseph G. Polchinski, professor of physics at at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and a permanent member of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He was cited as one of the "leading field and string theorists of his generation, contributing many significant ideas to both quantum field theory and to string theory."

Alain Karma, "Bringing Order to Chaotic Hearts", July 26th in the KITP Main Seminar Room. RSVP info forthcoming.
[Activity Page] [Flyer & RSVP Info] [Parking Directions]

Santa Barbara, Calif.--Joseph G. Polchinski, professor of physics at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and a permanent member of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), has been named 2007 recipient of the prestigious Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics.

The Kavli Foundation and Harvard University have agreed to establish the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology (KIBST).
[Press Release]

Lisa Randall, noted Harvard Physicist and author of the new book "Warped Passages" will be giving a talk at 7:30PM, December 5th at the Lobero Theater. Tickets are $19.
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George Johnson, science writer for the New York Times and author of 6 acclaimed books on topics and people in physics, is Journalist-in-Residence during October and November 2006 at the KITP. Watch for his Friday workshops.

Scientists use bill tracking data collected at a popular internet game site to quantify the movement of individuals within the United States.

The Academy of Arts & Sciences has elected philanthropist Fred Kavli to the 2006 class of Fellows.

Friend to the Institute and a member of its community board, The Director's Council.

[Article]

A mini-workshop: "Interdisciplinarity and Discipline in Education," coordinated by Phil Nelson, Rob Phillips and Boris Shraiman will be held on Sunday June 11th in the KITP Auditorium - UCSB Kohn Hall Room 1403.

The institute announces Volume 2, Number 1, the Spring/Summer 2006 issue of the KITP Newsletter (PDF), written and edited by Jacquelyn Savani and designed by Charmien Carrier. News and stories include the Rapid Response to Supersolidity, and Matthew Fisher's Quantum Choreography Inside Crystals.

Julian Nott, celebrated aeronaut, on scientific explorations with modern ballooning, including Saturn's moon Titan.
[Flyer] [Public lecture page]

Professor Robert Kirshner presents "Einstein's Blunder Undone - the discovery of cosmic acceleration".
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Professor Nathan Lewis presents "Challenges for Global Energy".
[Flyer] [Public lecture page]

The KITP is introducing its new online user interface called Herald for applying to programs and registering for conferences.

Professor W. Patrick McCray presents "Citizen-Scientists and the Dawn of the Space Age".

[Flyer] [Public lecture page]

Simon and Diana Raab have made a generous gift to establish the Simon and Diana Raab Presentation Prizes to be awarded for 3 years to winning presentations by Teachers' Conference attendees.
[Contest Details]

Professor Samuel S.-H. Wang presents "Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life".
[Flyer] [Public lecture page] [Blog]