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Cafe Scientifiqué: Exploding binary stars and gender binaries

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Cafe Scientifiqué will now be hosted through Zoom.

Professor JJ Eldridge, Physics, University of Auckland

Follow this link to access the event.

Over the past few years there has been a change in our understanding of how important binary stars are in our Universe. Whether from neutron star mergers, exploding white dwarfs or core-collapse supernovae, stellar explosions in binary systems are extremely important for creating the elements we depend upon for life like iron and oxygen. JJ will discuss how different exploding binaries create different elements and how we can trace their creation back through the history of the Universe. Showing how we can link the rarity of the explosion to the rarity of the element. JJ will also share their experiences of being a transgender academic, both the good and the bad and how we should explode the idea that gender is only a binary too.

About the speaker

Dr JJ Eldridge is an Associate Professor of Astronomy at University of Auckland. Their research is mainly focussed upon the evolution of stars, and created a unique Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis code (BPASS). While similar codes (such as starburst99) exist BPASS has important features, each of which set it apart from other codes and in combination make it the cutting edge. They are also the recipient of a Marsden Fund to develop an understanding of stars and galaxies associated with gravitational wave events.

SPEAKER

JJ Eldridge

Associate Professor

ORGANISATION

Auckland Museum Institute

VENUE/DATE

Online through Zoom

6:30pm Wed 29 April, 2020 - 8:00pm Wed 29 April, 2020