Reconstructing History Atom by Atom is May 3 lecture topic

Columbia University astrophysicist and American Institute of Physics Chair Dr. David J. Helfand will join the Lewes Public Library’s Science and Society lecture series for an engaging discussion titled “The Universal Timekeeper: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom,” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, via Zoom.  

Helfand will discuss how, by utilizing the basic building blocks of matter as imperturbable little clocks, scientists are now able to reconstruct in detail a remarkable range of human and natural events. From detecting art forgeries to dating archaeological sites, and from laying out a detailed history of human diet to revealing the events surrounding the origin of life, atoms can be used to provide a precise chronology from the beginning of time to the moment humans emerged to contemplate such questions. To register, go to tinyurl.com/ScienceAndSociety2022.

The program is part of the Lewes Public Library’s Science and Society – Making Sense of the World Around Us lecture series and will be moderated by Colin Norman, the former news editor at Science; Linda Dylla, former public information officer at the Jefferson Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy; and Fred Dylla, executive director emeritus of the American Institute of Physics and author of “Scientific Journeys.”

Helfand has been a faculty member at Columbia University for 44 years, serving nearly half that time as astronomy department chair. He has focused his teaching efforts on reaching non-science majors and developed Columbia’s Frontiers of Science course, now required for all first-year students. In 2005, he and colleagues endeavored to create Canada's first independent, nonprofit, secular university, Quest University Canada, where he served as president and vice chancellor from 2008-15. He also recently completed a four-year term as president of the American Astronomical Society.