Black Holes: Recent Breakthrough Results

Guest Speaker

Thursday, 27th June 2024 (19:45 - 22:00)

Venue: Meeting Room

Black holes sometimes sound more like science fiction than science fact, but the recent breakthrough results on gravitational waves and the amazing image of the shadow of an event horizon show the reality behind the equations. I'll introduce black holes, and guide us through the science behind the images, a wonderful world where spacetime itself ripples, and where light gets bent around.

Join the meeting online HERE if you can't attend in person

Speaker: Christine Done

Dr. Christine Done is a distinguished astrophysicist renowned for her groundbreaking research on X-rays from black holes. She earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge, where her innovative work laid the foundation for her future contributions to the field. Following her doctorate, Dr. Done was awarded an NRC fellowship at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where she played a pivotal role in the ground control team for an X-ray telescope mission aboard the space shuttle.

Upon her return to the UK, Dr. Done secured both junior and senior research fellowships from the UK Research Council, reflecting her exceptional promise and research capabilities. In 2000, she joined the University of Durham as a tenured faculty member, and her academic excellence and leadership were further recognized in 2006 when she was promoted to full professor, becoming one of the first women to achieve this prestigious position at the university. Dr. Done's career is marked by her contributions to high-energy astrophysics and her dedication to advancing our understanding of the universe.