Speaker:
R. Austin
Institution:
Princeton University
Speaker Link:
Date:
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Time:
3:30 pm
Event Details:
Profssor Robert H. Austin, Princeton University (Biophysics), will attempt to answer a timely and intriguing question: "Can The Biologists Save Physics?"
Location:
RH 101
Abstract:
I've stolen this title from 2 books: How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill and How the Hippies Saved Physics by David Kaiser. Both books are wrong, so I will be in good company. I'll try to make the case that biology may be even deeper than physics and physics needs to learn from biology, yet physics also has much to add to the depth of biology by adding fundamental concepts as well as tools and techniques to modern biology. As an experimental biological physicist (but not a biophysicist) I'll present some examples from my own career, some successes, some failures, and maybe peer into the future a little ways.