Events During the Week of March 16th through March 23rd, 2025
Monday, March 17th, 2025
- Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar
- "Uncertainty quantification in fusion power plant design”
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
- Place: 1227 Engineering Hall
- Speaker: Enrique Miralles-Dolz , PPPL/UW-Madison
- Abstract: The characterization and quantification of uncertainties are fundamental activities in engineering design, often carried out within the framework of probability theory. While probability theory is successful for capturing aleatory uncertainties, it imposes too strict assumptions when dealing with epistemic uncertainty. In this talk I will present recent developments in methodologies for dealing with epistemic uncertainty in uncertainty quantification, sensitivity analysis, optimization under uncertainty, and risk analysis with an application to fusion power plant design.
- Host: Prof. Adelle Wright
- Department Meeting
- Closed Department Meeting
- Time: 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
- Place: VIRTUAL - Lefkow will send link
- Closed meeting to discuss personnel matters—pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Host: Kevin Black
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- Observable CMB B-modes from Cosmological Phase Transitions
- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- Place: Chamberlin 5280
- Speaker: Gordan Krnjaic, Fermilab
- Abstract: A B-mode polarization signal in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) is widely regarded as smoking gun evidence for gravitational waves produced during inflation. Here we demonstrate that tensor perturbations from a cosmological phase transition can produce a B-mode signal whose strength rivals that of testable inflationary predictions across a range of observable scales. Although phase transitions arise from causal sub-horizon physics, they nevertheless exhibit a white-noise power spectrum on super-horizon scales. Power is suppressed on the large scales relevant for CMB B-mode polarization, but it is not necessarily negligible. For appropriately chosen phase transition parameters, the maximal B-mode amplitude can compete with inflationary predictions that can be tested with current and future experiments. These scenarios can be differentiated by performing measurements on multiple angular scales, since the phase transition signal predicts peak power on smaller scales. Event recording:
- Host: Dan Hooper
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
- Department Meeting
- Closed Department Meeting
- Time: 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
- Place: VIRTUAL - Lefkow will send link
- Closed meeting to discuss personnel matters—pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Host: Kevin Black
- Graduate Program Event
- Mental Health for Graduate Students - Part 1 (of 3)
- Self-Care in Grad School + Overview of Mental Health Services (MHS)
- Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling
- Speaker: Neeti Shenoy, MA and Sara Beachy Waters, JD, Mental Health Services/University Health Services
- Abstract: Join Neeti Shenoy, MA and Sara Beachy Waters, JD for a session specifically for grad students to talk about self-care. They will also provide an overview of the various mental health resources available from UHS.
Neeti is a Doctoral Psychology intern and Sara is a Mental Health Counseling Trainee. - Host: Sharon Kahn
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
- No events scheduled
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Towards a Unified picture of Planet Formation
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Songhu Wang, Indiana University
- Abstract: While the exoplanetary field is replete with remarkable discoveries, perhaps the two most intriguing findings have been the detection of hot Jupiters – giant planets orbiting perilously close to their parent stars, and the startling abundance of super-Earths – planets with masses between that of Earth and Neptune. The mere existence of these worlds was wholly unpredicted based on the expectations gleaned from centuries of observations of our own solar system. This talk will examine the demographics and orbital architectures of these exoplanets, discussing how the sheer variety of observed exoplanetary systems can be explained within a unified theoretical framework.
- Host: Melinda Soares-Furtado
Friday, March 21st, 2025
- Climate & Diversity
- Diversity Forum Fridays: The Islamophobia Sniff Test
- Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
- Place: in Chamberlin 5310 & Zoom
- Abstract: For over 20 years, UW–Madison has hosted the annual Diversity Forum for participants to engage in discourse and education on contemporary issues related to creating equitable and inclusive learning and working environments.
2024 Theme: Threads of Belonging: Navigating Differences and Building Community
Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism are deeply rooted prejudices that target Muslims and individuals perceived as Muslim, such as Arab Christians and non-Muslim South Asians. They fuel hate speech, hostility, hate crimes, and intolerance, often manifesting as discrimination, harassment, abuse, and intimidation. In the United States, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism have been used to justify concerning policies, including mass surveillance, guilt by association, and collective punishment of members of the Muslim community. And on campuses, inequitable policies have also led to harassment and bigotry that allows for unsafe conditions for Muslim and Arab students. During this session, UW Muslim and Muslim-Allied Faculty and Staff will share research on the origins of Islamophobia in the US, societal repercussions that has led to inequities for Muslim and Arabs, research on how it has manifested at UW-Madison, and ways the campus community can foster inclusion and belonging so everyone can thrive. - Host: Rachel Zizmann
- Physics Department Colloquium
- Telescope Array and the Dawn Goddess of the North
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 2241 CH
- Speaker: Doug Bergman, University of Utah
- Abstract: I will begin by presenting the highest energy cosmic ray event to be seen in the last 30 years: Amaterasu. I will attempt to relay the intellectual satisfaction to be felt in analyzing great data from a great instrument. I will then move on to discuss evidence for the ultra high energy cosmic ray spectrum being different in the North than it is in the South. This may explain why the highest energy cosmic rays have been observed in Utah.
- Host: Justin Vandenbroucke
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025
- Academic Calendar
- Spring recess
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025
- Academic Calendar
- Spring recess
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.*