[News-releases] Public Lecture to shine light on search for Dark Matter

[Melissa Baluk]

News Release | For Immediate Release | Wednesday, June 17, 2015 9:30AM PDT

Public Lecture to shine light on search for Dark Matter 

(Vancouver, BC) – Science World and TRIUMF welcome Dr. Chris Jillings, SNOLAB dark matter scientist, who will present a free public lecture on Tuesday July 7 at the TELUS World of Science facility. Dr. Jillings’ talk, “The Search for Dark Matter or How to Know the Universe from a Hole in the Ground,” will shine a light on the world-wide search for dark matter. His talk is part of the popular Unveiling the Universe lecture series presented by TRIUMF and Science World. 

During the evening, Jillings will open our eyes to the invisible universe, taking us a few steps past the average high school chemistry class to present evidence that most of the universe cannot be found on the periodic table of elements. He will take this time to demonstrate how SNOLAB’s location in a deep, dark mine creates the optimal conditions to shine light on dark matter.

The Unveiling the Universe lecture series is a partnership of Science World and TRIUMF that has fascinated thousands of local science lovers since 2012, with talks from some of the world’s top physicists. This installment will take place at the TELUS World of Science OMNIMAX theatre on Tuesday, July 7. Doors open at 6:15pm and the lecture begins at 7pm. There will be an audience Q&A to follow. Tickets are free but registration is required—for ticket information visit: http://darkmatter-utu.eventbrite.ca/. 

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Media Contact
Dr. Marcello Pavan						Tel: 604.222.7525
Outreach and Communications	 		E-mail: marcello at triumf.ca
TRIUMF 						

About Dr. Jillings
Chris Jillings is a dark-matter physicist at SNOLAB, located deep in a working nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Jillings obtained his PhD from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario before moving on to UCLA and CalTech in the Los Angeles area to study neutrino science and astrophysics. He returned to SNOLAB in 2006, where he is now a senior scientist on the SNO+ and DEAP experiments. SNOLAB is the base for Canadian researchers to explore the field of astroparticle and related physics. Its subterranean location allows scientists to conduct experiments without interference from cosmic rays and atmospheric radiation. 

About Dark Matter
Dark matter is a hypothetical substance used to explain astronomical observation. It can make up about 25% of the universe, but its nature is so far completely unknown. Dark matter should be all around us, but it neither emits nor absorbs light, making its detection extremely challenging. Scientists use ultrasensitive detectors shielded from all other forms of radiation, to search for it.

About TRIUMF
TRIUMF is Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. Together with its partner AAPS, Inc., TRIUMF also seeks to commercialize its technologies for the benefit of all Canadians. Located on the south campus of the University of British Columbia, TRIUMF receives operating support from the Government of Canada through a contribution agreement via National Research Council Canada; the Government of British Columbia provides capital for new buildings. Visit us at www.triumf.ca and tweet us @TRIUMFLab.

About Science World
Science World British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization that engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.





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Melissa M. Baluk
Communications Coordinator
Strategic Planning and Communications, TRIUMF
604.222.7692


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