Purdue News

September 8, 2000 Famous physicist to discuss levitation, natural wonders WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Sir Michael V. Berry, a theoretical physicist whose work has gained him international fame for delving into subjects ranging from levitation and quantum mechanics to the optics of rainbows, will give two talks next week at Purdue University's West Lafayette campus. Berry, the Royal Society Research Professor at Bristol University in Great Britain, will deliver the Purdue Physics Department's annual Special Physics Colloquium talk entitled,"Levitation without Meditation," at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in Room 223 of the Physics Building. At 4 p.m. on Thursday in the same location, he will deliver the 12th annual Hubert M. James Lecture with a talk entitled, "Seven Wonders of Physics," which will be more geared for a general audience than his Wednesday talk. The first talk will flesh out the hard physics behind a gravity-defying toy, a levitating top that appears to float magically in the air. The second lecture will discuss how nature sometimes "illustrates the abstract ideas of physics and mathematics in beautiful ways," and how those ideas can be brought to life with simple demonstrations. Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; jwillis1@purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS:   Michael Berry may be available to speak with reporters before or after his talk on Thursday. The best opportunity will be shortly before the 4 p.m. Thursday talk during refreshments in Room 242 of the Physics Building. His resume and details about his work can be downloaded from the web. Some information also is available from Emil Venere, (765) 494-4709, evenere@purdue.edu. To the Purdue News and Photos Page