Dr Roberto Trotta

PUBLIC LECTURES 

The cosmic enigma. A lecture for the British Astronomical Association, Burlington House, London, Nov 2010.

Particles and the Universe, a day course at Oxford University Continuing Education Department, with Matthew Malek, Oct 2nd 2010. Lecture 1 Lecture 2 

The anthropic principle and the origin of the Universe. A talk given at AstroFest 2009, Saturday, February 7, 2009, 2:30pm.

The "bootleg video" above has been made by a member of the public (thanks for that!). 

RAS Partnership with Cunard Lines:  Astronomy on board. I have been the RAS Lecturer onboard the Queen Mary 2 on her Caribbean Adventure voyage departing from New York on Nov 21st 2008. The lectures were entitled: The mysterious beauty of the cosmos A voyage to the edge of the Universe The dark side of the Universe Mapping out the invisible Universe Why are we here? The strange case of humans in the Universe I also led a stargazing session on the top deck. Although we had to brave the high winds that threatened to sweep us off board, we all had great fun! 

The visible and invisible Universe.  A series of two lectures given at Kassel High School, Germany, May 2009.

Cosmology meets the challenge - Uncovering the nature of the dark matter and dark energy of the Universe. A lunchtime lecture at the Royal Astronomical Society, Feb 12th 2007.

Dr Roberto Trotta, of the University of Oxford and Norman Lockyer Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, will discuss the 96% of the Universe that remains largely unknown to modern science. One of the most surprising discoveries in cosmology is that most of the Universe's contents are dark. Some 25% of the "cosmic recipe" is made of mysterious dark matter, and 70% is in the form of an even more puzzling "dark energy", which appears to be ripping the Universe apart. Dr Trotta will explain how spectacular cosmological observations reveal the existence of this "dark Universe", and show that the stuff we are made of is only a tiny fraction of the cosmos. Cutting-edge methods and instruments allow cosmologists to study this invisible Universe and Dr Trotta will outline how scientists are using these to understand the nature and properties of dark matter and dark energy. 

The BA Award Lectures - Lord Kelvin Lecture 2007 Does the Universe need humankind? The strange case of intelligent observers in the cosmos.  

The Lord Kelvin Award Lecture on Thur Sept 13th at the BA Festival of Science. I also took part to the Xchange, a funny cafe scientifique presented by Sue Nelson. 

Spectacular cosmological observations have recently revealed that most of the Universe is made of dark matter and dark energy, while the stuff we are made of is only a tiny fraction of the cosmos. It is therefore a huge surprise that such a Universe is supportive of life - is our existence an incredibly improbable lucky throw of the dice, or is it hinting to some deeper structure in the laws of physics? 

Life and the Multiverse. A lecture given at the Marlborough College Summer School Thur August 2nd 2007.

If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to hear, does it make a sound? This age-old question is analogous to one that cosmologists have been asking in the context of the latest scientific discoveries about the Universe - could the Universe be said to "exist" if the laws of physics precluded the evolution of intelligent observers? 

COURSES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC 

The Evolving Universe. A day course at Oxford University Continuing Education Department, Saturday 14th November 2009 (with Bob Lambourne). 

 Bob Lambourne and Roberto Trotta will present this event which will take you from the birth of the Universe, to the present day. Topics covered will include the big bang, the ultrafast expansion known as inflation, the origin of the chemical elements, the formation of the first stars and the emergence and clustering of galaxies. 

The Big Bang - the Facts, the Science, and some Fiction.  Oxford University Summer School for Adults, 11 - 18 July 2009.

One of the most surprising discoveries of modern cosmology is that most of the UniverseÕs contents are dark - i.e., 25% of the "cosmic recipe" is made of the mysterious dark matter, while 70% is in the form of an even more puzzling "dark energy", which appears to be ripping the Universe apart. Spectacular cosmological observations have revealed the existence of this dark Universe, and point to a moment in time, some 13.7 billion years ago, when it all began: the Big Bang. This course will explore the evidence for the Big Bang picture and for the current cosmological model. We will discuss the outstanding challenges and speculate on the fundamental reality of the cosmos. No prior knowledge is assumed.

The Dark Side of Astronomy. Oxford University Continuing Education Department, The 30th Annual Astronomy Weekend, Fri 4 to Sun 6 Apr 2008.

This year the ever-popular astronomy weekend is devoted to the dark side of the Universe. Individual talks will consider the dark energy currently believed to account for the accelerating expansion of the Universe, and the dark matter that is believed to be the dominant form of matter. Speakers include: Dr Sarah Bridle (UCL), Dr Roberto Trotta (Oxford University), Dr Matthew Malek (Oxford University), Dr David Rothery (The Open University), Dr Stephen Serjeant (The Open University).

The Big Bang and Beyond. An introduction to observational cosmology. 

I have given this 10-weeks course twice, in 2006 and in 2008. It has also been held in a different format in the 2009 Oxford University Summer School.

When did the Big Bang happen, and how do we know it did? What is the mysterious dark sector made of? This course probes some of the most fascinating questions about the nature of the Universe we live in, and examines the answers which cutting edge cosmological research is beginning to give. No prior knowledge is assumed.

Observational Cosmology. A day course at Oxford University Continuing Education Department, Saturday 10th November 2008 (with Bob Lambourne).

Bob Lambourne and Roberto Trotta will present this event which will take you to the edge of the observable universe in time and space. Topics will range from the latest findings concerning the big bang and its associated radiation to recent studies of superclusters of galaxies and the ultimate fate of the Universe.

Universe or Multiverse? A day course at Oxford University Continuing Education Department, Saturday 6th October 2007 (with Bernard Carr).

 In this very special day school, Professor Carr, together with Oxford cosmologist Dr Roberto Trotta, will introduce the idea of the multiverse, discuss its possible nature and examine its potential implications. We have all spent our lives sharing a common physical reality, but what is it: Universe or Multiverse?

SCIENCE FESTIVALS 

FESTIVAL DE FLEURANCE 2009/ La science de l'incertitude 

Un atelier fil rouge tenu le 13 août 2009 au Festival d'Astronomie de Fleurance.

On perçoit souvent la science comme la marche sans faille d'une vérité a l'autre. Chaque découverte remplace et rend obsolète la précédente : de Newton à Einstein, de la physique classique a la mécanique quantique. Rien de plus faux ! En effet, une des préoccupations majeures des scientifiques est de préciser et de quantifier exactement le degré d'incertitude de leurs théories. Dans cet atelier nous aborderons les lois de la probabilité qui règlent non seulement les mesures scientifiques, mais aussi notre vie quotidienne. On appliquera ces notions à une variété de situations différentes, comme la probabilité d'avoir un virus si le test est positif, à la probabilité de l'existence d'autres Univers.

Téléchargez ici le polycopié de l'atelier.

Téléchargez ici le corrigé des problèmes.

FESTIVAL DE FLEURANCE 2009/ Est-ce que l'Univers a besoin de nous ? 

Un cours fil rouge tenu le 11 août 2009 au Festival d'Astronomie de Fleurance.

On sait que la Terre n'occupe pas une position particulière dans le cosmos : notre planète orbite autour d'une étoile assez ordinaire a la périphérie d'une galaxie comme il y en a des milliards d'autres. Toutefois, seule une configuration particulière des constantes naturelles (par exemple, celle de Newton) a permis l’apparition de la vie. La plus minuscule différence dans une de ces constantes l’en aurait empêché. Pure coïncidence, ou bien indication que notre Univers possède une structure cachée responsable des lois naturelles? Ce cours présentera des arguments statistiques qui interprètent cette situation comme la conséquence de l'existence d'un grand nombre d'Univers parallèles (le Multivers). Les aspects philosophiques et ontologiques que cette théorie seront aussi discutés.

Téléchargez ici le polycopié du cours.

The dark side of the Universe 

Part of Meet the Scientist! At the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, June 21st 2008.

Get hands-on about cosmology in a family-friendly way! We bring the Universe to you! Design your own Universe, simulate how dark energy rips it apart and discover how dark matter bends light, with these exciting interactive displays of cosmology at work (an event in collaboration with Emma Walker and Lisa Fogarty (Oxford) and Marieke Navin (MOSI))

EuroScience Open Forum 2008: Crisis in cosmology? 

A session at ESOF 2008 (Barcelona) in collaboration with Licia Verde. Download slides here (about 100 MB!)

According to the standard Big Bang theory, the Universe began in a hot dense fireball about 13 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since, a picture supported by strong observational facts.

However, after decades of efforts cosmologists still struggle to explain the existence of dark matter, and even more to understand the nature of dark energy, which together are believed to account for 95% of the energy in the Universe. This crisis threathens to extend beyond cosmology, and to engulf our fundamental understanding of the laws of nature. Astronomers and physicist have now come together to propose a new generation of experiments and observations that could help us resolve this crisis...

THE ROYAL SOCIETY SUMMER SCIENCE EXHIBITION 2006 

The Summer Science Exhibitionis the Royal Society's most prestigious public outreach event. The London event has taken place on July 3-7 and the Glasgow exhbit on Sept 12-14. 

Oxford Astrophysics has participated with the project Heavens' kitchen: from primordial soup to cosmic pancakes. Our exhibit showed how, using cosmic rulers, we can measure distances out to the edge of the Universe and weigh its ingredients on cosmic scales. This unravels the origin, evolution, and destiny of our Universe. I was the coordinator for the Oxford Astrophysics exhibit. If you have missed it, catch up by visiting our Exhibit website here!

TALKS IN SCHOOLS AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC 

• 'One day,  Sir,  you may tax it': why society needs cosmology, Lunchtime talk for the Friends of the RAS, Sept 2011.
  
• The dark side of the Universe, Crayford Manor astronomical society, March 2011.
• The cosmic enigma, Westminster School, London, Sept 2010.
• The anthropic principle and the origin of the Universe. Marlborough College, Dec 2009. 
• The dark side of the Universe. A talk at the HGS Astronomical Society, Sept 30th 2009, 7.30pm.
• Dark matter astronomy. A talk at the Newbury Astronomical Society, Oct 2nd 2009, 7.30pm. 
• Il cosmo che non avete mai visto: a caccia della materia e dell'energia oscure dell'Universo. A talk given at the Centro Stefano Franscini , Monte Verita' (Ascona, Switzerland), Wed Jul 29th 2009, 8.30pm, as part of the Cosmostats09 conference. 
• Looking for the invisible - The birth and rise of dark matter astronomy. A talk at INTECH Planetarium, Winchester, Sept 16th 2009, 6.30pm. 
• Uncovering the nature of the dark matter and dark energy in the Universe. A keynote talk for science teachers given at the Association for Astronomy Education's Annual General Meeting, Burlington House, London, June 28th 2008. 
• Does the Universe Need Mankind? A talk at Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Fri May 15 2009, 7pm.
• The dark side of the Universe. Tudor Hall School, Banbury, Nov 2008.
• Voyage to the edge of the Universe... and beyond. Winchester Planetarium Sept 2008.
• Does the Universe need humankind? CornerClub, Oxford, April 2008.
• The dark sector of the Universe - Clever ways of observing invisible stuff. Astronomy for all lectures series. Green College, Oxford, March 2008.
• The invisible Universe - Hunting down the mysterious dark matter. Part of the National Particle Physics Masterclass 2008 for schools at Oxford University. March 2008.
• The dark sector of the Universe - Clever ways of observing invisible stuff. Oxford University Space and Astronomy Society, Oxford Oct 2007.
• The dark side of the Universe - Uncovering the nature of the dark matter and dark energy in the cosmos. Oxford University Astrophysics Department, talk for a visit by a Dutch school. March 2008.
• The dark side of the Universe. A talk given in February 2007 at Bedford school to 6th form students
• Light and Dark. An interactive presentation for 5 yr olds at Gonville Primary School, Nov 2006.
• A stroll through spacetime. A talk given for a private event in Mansfield College in March 2006.
• The solar sytem with fruits and vegs. A talk given in 2006 at Sonning Common primary school for 10 year olds.
• A Walking Tour of the Universe. A talk given in 2005 at Bedford school to 6th form students
• The fundamental forces of Nature. A talk given at CERN in 2004 for a group of children and adults of the astronomy club of Divonne, France
• The solar system for kids. A hands-on workshop held in 2004 for 5 to 12 years old at the astronomy club of Divonne, France
• CERN 50th anniversary. A talk given at CERN during the Open Day celebrating its 50th anniversary.