Black Holes: Urry to Speak in Scarsdale

In Scarsdale Dec. 9, Yale professor Meg Urry (above) will address topics from black holes and the evolution of the universe to women pursuing careers in science. (Yale photos)

Yale professor Meg Urry, well known for her accomplishments in physics and astronomy and for her leadership in encouraging females to pursue advanced fields in science, will speak in Westchester at the Scarsdale Library, Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm.  Yale alumni, friends and those interested in the topic are encouraged to attend.

The presentation is part of the YWAA's lecture series, led by YWAA treasurer Rich Fabrio '76, that brings prominent Yale faculty members to Westchester to speak on current issues and topics or about recent publications or accomplishments. In 2013, Yale professor Paul Bracken spoke to a YWAA and Westchester audience in Scarsdale about his latest book, The Second Nuclear Age.

Urry will talk about black holes, the evolution of the universe, and the questions and answers that are emerging in astrophysics today. She will also provide updates on how women are faring in science in the Ivy League. At Yale, Urry is the Israel Munson Professor of Physics and Astronomy and the Chair of the Physics Department.

Prof. Urry, the first Yale Professor elected head of the American Astronomical Society (7,500 members), has been leading research in black holes and other phenomena that were central to movies like Interstellar. She has been the subject of many articles about issues and challenges for women pursuing science careers, including in the past year in the New York Times and the Yale Alumni Magazine (Apr., 2014). 

She has a B.S. degree in mathematics and physics from Tufts and a Ph.d. in physics from Johns Hopkins and has been at Yale since 2001.

The Scarsdale lecture is free. But Yale alumni and others interested in attending should register by clicking Urry Event to permit organizers to plan appropriately.  The Scarsdale Library is located at 54 Olmsted Rd. in Scarsdale.