Volume 2, Issue 14 September 2005
Dean's Message
Mark Richards
Dean, Physical Sciences
September 2005
Dear Friends:
The fall semester has begun and the campus is already buzzing with activity and excitement. Our students, new and returning, are discussing their favorite courses and professors with friends, and professors are eagerly welcoming students to their laboratories and classrooms.
This semester brings with it many fascinating College events that are open to the public — in particular; I'd like to draw your attention to two programs that we are proud to present:
Science and the Soul: J. Robert Oppenheimer and Doctor Atomic, September 26 at 8 pm, Wheeler Auditorium — This free evening symposium will bring together composer John Adams, director Peter Sellars, and University Professor of Physics Marvin Cohen to discuss J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the creation of the first atomic bomb as well as examine the background of Doctor Atomic, a new opera premiering at San Francisco Opera. The evening will also feature an exclusive musical preview of Doctor Atomic. Co-sponsored by Cal Performances, this program is part of the ongoing series The College Presents. For more information, visit http://ls.berkeley.edu/CollegePresents. Additionally, there are numerous other Berkeley programs that examine the atomic age through the lens of the arts; see http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/bca/events.html#4 for details.
Amazing Light: Visions for Discovery, October 6-8, UC Berkeley campus — The University is proud to host this three-day symposium, which celebrates the scientific contributions of Nobel Laureate Charles Townes--over 18 Nobel Laureates will be in attendance! The program's goals are to explore possibilities for investigating new, deep discoveries about the nature of reality, as well as for developing new tools to advance this adventure. On October 7, a free public lecture examining the challenge of building supertelescopes in the search for extraterrestrial life will be held in Zellerbach Hall. For more information and to register, visit http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes.
I do hope you can join us on campus this fall for events sponsored by the College of Letters & Science and its departments and programs. For a complete listing of College events, visit http://LS.berkeley.edu/events.
See you on campus!
Mark Richards
Professor of Earth and Planetary Science
Dean, Division of Physical Sciences
College of Letters and Science
UC Berkeley
Mark_Richards@ls.berkeley.edu