Origin, Evolution, and the Fate of Our Universe

Professor Phillip Lubin spoke to a packed Elliott Hall about the awe-inspiring topic of our universe. Lubin, professor of Physics at UCSB and a member of the UCSB Cosmology group, researches questions such as, “was there time before the universe?” and “what conditions created time?” He explores topics like dark matter and dark energy, which he believes will ultimately bring an end to our universe. Ultimately, although Professor Lubin provided a wealth of knowledge to a captive audience, he emphasized the fact that we know relatively little and the little that we do know is subject to change at any time. This is a good challenge for a scientist like Lubin, who reminded us that, “Our ignorance level is quite profound, which is good because it means job security.”

Student Response: “UCSB Astrophysicist Philip Lubin gave an extremely interesting presentation on astronomy.  He talked about the importance of dark matter in our universe.  The lecture got me interested in the topic, and I went home and emailed him.  I also did some research on the topic at home.  It got me thinking about the possibility of taking an astronomy course in college.  I was quite interested in the history of the universe and the theories that come with it.”  – C. E. (grade 10)