Halley Lectures Explained

The Halley Lectures are a series of annual public lectures hosted by the University of Oxford, in memory of the astronomer Edmond Halley. Currently, some podcasts of the lectures can be found through the Oxford Physics Public Lectures[1] These lectures aim to promote public understanding and engagement with science, mathematics, and related fields, and to inspire new generations of researchers and students to pursue careers in these areas. They are often delivered May or June each year at the Sir Martin Wood Lecture Theatre of the Clarendon Laboratory

History

The tradition of the Halley Lecture in the University of Oxford was founded by Henry Wilde for the 1910 return of Halley's comet. By Wilde's direction, it is to be given annually on a subject related to astronomy or terrestrial magnetism. With time,University expanded their scope to interpret astronomy including astrophysics, and terrestrial magnetism to include "and terrestrial magnetism to include "the physics of the external and internal parts of the terrestrial globe" geophysics. The first Halley lecture Celestial ejectamenta. was delivered by Henry Wilde himself on Tuesday, 10 May 1910.

Purpose

The purpose of the Halley Lectures is to bring leading experts in various fields to the University of Oxford, where they can share their knowledge and insights with the public. The lectures aim to promote public understanding and engagement with science and mathematics, and to inspire new generations of researchers and students to pursue careers in these areas.

Format

The Halley Lectures are open to the public and are typically well-attended by people of all ages and backgrounds. Each lecture lasts approximately one hour, and is followed by a Q&A session where the audience can ask questions and engage with the speaker.

Topics

The topics covered in the Halley Lectures are diverse and reflect the wide range of disciplines within science and mathematics that illuminate astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, cosmogenesis, exobiology, and earth science. Selection of lecturers is made based on timeliness of the topic, their expertise and contributions to their respective fields.

Chronology of Halley Lectures

scope=col Datescope=col Lecturerscope=col Title
27 October 2022Amina HelmiDynamics and History of the Milky Way[2]
8 May 2019Marc KamionkowskiIs Dark Matter Made of Black Holes[3]
22 May 2018Adam Showman[4] [5] Weather on Remote Worlds[6]
7 June 2017Rainer WeissObservation of the mergers of binary black holes: The opening of gravitational wave astronomy[7]
8 June 2016Scott TremaineThe origin and structure of the solar system comet cloud[8]
19 June 2015Peter J. WebsterUnderstanding the Monsoon[9]
13 June 2014Eliot QuataertFrom Smooth to Lumpy -- the Physics of Galaxy Formation
29 May 2013Ewine van DishoeckBuilding stars, planets and the ingredients for life between the stars[10]
14 June 2012Susan SolomonThe World's Chemistry in Our Hands: Global Environmental Challenges Past and Future[11] [12]
11 March 2011Michel MayorOther Worlds in the Universe? The Quest for Earth Twins
25 May 2010Brian SchmidtThe Accelerating the Universe
24 April 2008George SmootThe History and Fate of the Universe
23 May 2007Ron EkersPaths to Discovery in Radioastronomy -Prediction and Serendipity
21 May 1985Malcolm LongairUniverse - present, past and future[13]
23 May 1972Subrahmanyan ChandrasekharThe increasing role of general relativity in astronomy[14]
4 June 1976Charles H TownesInterstellar molecules[15]
16 May 1962Hermann BondiPhysics and Cosmology[16]
6 May 1955Martin RyleRadio stars and their cosmological significance[17]
1 May 1951Jan OortOrigin and development of comets[18]
16 May 1950Edward BullardThe origin of the Earth's magnetic field[19]
12 May 1948Fritz ZwickyMorphological Astronomy[20] [21]
3 June 1941William Marshall SmartSea and Air Navigation[22]
16 May 1940Fritz PanethThe origin of meteorites[23]
5 June 1939Harold Spencer JonesThe earth as a clock[24]
16 June 1938Armin Otto LeuschnerThe minor planets of the Hecuba group[25]
28 May 1937Basil SchonlandThe lightning discharge
5 June 1935John Stanley PlaskettThe dimensions and structure of the galaxy.[26]
8 May 1934Edwin HubbleRed-shifts in the spectra of nebulae[27]
1 June 1933Henry Norris RussellThe composition of the stars[28]
19 May 1932Arthur MilneThe white dwarf stars[29]
30 May 1930Arthur EddingtonThe Rotation of the Galaxy[30]
31 May 1929Gilbert WalkerSome problems of Indian Meteorology[31]
20 May 20, 1927Frank StrattonModern eclipse problems[32]
28 May 1924John JolyRadioactivity and the Surface History of the Earth[33]
17 May 1923George SimpsonScott's Polar Journey and the Weather[34] [35]
23 May 1922Harold JeffreysThe Nebular Hypothesis and Modern Cosmogony[36]
17 May 1921John Knight FotheringhamHistorical Eclipses[37]
12 June 1920Ralph Allen SampsonOn Gravitation and Relativity[38]
22 May 1913Louis Agricola BauerThe Earth's Magnetism[39]
10 May 1910Celestial ejectamenta[40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oxford Physics Public Lectures. Oxford University.
  2. Web site: Halley Lecture: Dynamics and history of the Milky Way . 27 October 2022 .
  3. Web site: Is Dark Matter Made of Black Holes .
  4. Web site: Adam Showman . 10 June 2016 .
  5. Web site: Remembering Adam Showman . 23 March 2020 .
  6. Web site: Theoretical physics. University of Oxford Department of Physics .
  7. Web site: Observation of the mergers of binary black holes: The opening of gravitational wave astronomy .
  8. Web site: Halley Lecture. ox.ac.uk. 14 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Halley Lecture. 'Understanding the Monsoon'. ox.ac.uk. 14 July 2023.
  10. Web site: Halley Lecture - 'Building stars, planets and the ingredients for life between the stars' Prof Dr E.F. Van Dishoeck | University of Oxford Department of Physics .
  11. Web site: Public Outreach. University of Oxford Department of Physics .
  12. Web site: Lectures and Seminars Trinity Term 2012 (1) - University of Oxford .
  13. Longair . M. S. . The Universe - present, past and future . The Observatory . October 1985 . 105 . 171–188 . 1985Obs...105..171L .
  14. Chandrasekhar . S. . The increasing role of general relativity in astronomy . The Observatory . October 1972 . 92 . 160 . 1972Obs....92..160C .
  15. Townes, Charles H.. "Interstellar molecules. (A written version of the Halley lectures 1976, delivered in Oxford, 4 June 1976)." Physics-Uspekhi (1979): n. pag. (Usp. Fiz. Nauk; (USSR); Journal Volume: 127:3) https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/5636519
  16. Bondi . H. . Physics and cosmology . The Observatory . August 1962 . 82 . 133–143 . 1962Obs....82..133B .
  17. Ryle . M. . Radio stars and their cosmological significance . The Observatory . August 1955 . 75 . 137–147 . 1955Obs....75..137R .
  18. Oort . J. H. . Origin and development of comets . The Observatory . August 1951 . 71 . 129–144 . 1951Obs....71..129O . Reprinted as: Book: Jan Hendrik . Oort . 1951 . Origin and development of comets, the Halley lecture for 1951, delivered at Oxford on May 1 . 10898462 .
  19. Bullard . E. C. . The origin of the Earth's magnetic field . The Observatory . August 1950 . 70 . 139–143 . 1950Obs....70..139B .
  20. Morphological Astronomy . Nature . October 1948 . 162 . 4120 . 627–628 . 10.1038/162627a0 . 1948Natur.162..627. . 4103200 . free .
  21. Web site: Fritz Zwicky: Halley lecture .
  22. William Marshall Smart,Sea and Air Navigation: Being the Halley Lecture Delivered on 3 June 1941 Oxford University Press, H. Milford, 1941.
  23. Web site: The origin of meteorites; being the Halley lecture delivered on 16 May 1940 . WorldCat. 5431515 .
  24. Web site: The earth as a clock, being the Halley lecture delivered on 5 June 1939. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  25. Web site: The minor planets of the Hecuba group, being the Halley lecture delivered on 16 June 1938. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  26. Book: The dimensions and structure of the galaxy; being the Halley lecture delivered on 5 June 1935. WorldCat. 8108564 . 14 July 2023.
  27. Hubble, Edwin Powell. "Red-shifts in the Spectra of Nebulae." Oxford (1934) WorldCat
  28. Book: The composition of the stars . 1933 .
  29. J. . H. S. . Five Halley Lectures . Nature . February 1937 . 139 . 3511 . 266–267 . 10.1038/139266a0 . 1937Natur.139..266H . 4079876 .
  30. Web site: The rotation of the galaxy, being the Halley lecture delivered on 30 May 1930. WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org. 14 July 2023.
  31. Web site: Some problems of Indian meteorology; being the Halley lecture delivered on 31 May 1929 | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org. 14 July 2023.
  32. https://www.worldcat.org/title/11981387 Modern eclipse problems, being the Halley lecture delivered on 20 May, 1927, with notes for the observation of the eclipse of 29 June, 1927
  33. Web site: Radioactivity and the surface history of the earth; being the Halley lecture, delivered on 28 May, 1924. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  34. Scott's Polar Journey and the Weather . Nature . June 1926 . 117 . 2953 . 778 . 10.1038/117778a0 . 4032924 . free .
  35. Web site: Scott's polar journey and the weather. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  36. Jeffreys . Harold . The Nebular Hypothesis and Modern Cosmogony: being the Halley Lecture delivered on May 23, 1922 . Nature . May 1923 . 111 . 2794 . 662–663 . 10.1038/111662a0 . 1923Natur.111..662J . 32292299 .
  37. Web site: Historical eclipsis. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  38. Web site: On Gravitation and Relativity: being the Halley Lecture 1920. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  39. Web site: The earth's magnestism. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.
  40. Web site: Celestial ejectamenta the first Halley lecture delivered before the University on Tuesday, May 10, 1910. WorldCat. 14 July 2023.

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