2011 Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt
Astronomy & Eclipse Presentation

Exclusive to Small World Journeys

Small World Journeys is honoured that Dr. Brian Schmidt has chosen to be our special guest speaker for the total solar eclipse event in November 2012. Speaking only to Small World Journeys guests, Dr. Schmidt will explain astronomy, total solar eclipses and the expansion of the universe in layman's terms. Dr. Schmidt has an enjoyable presentation that any guest -- whether "eclipse chaser" or someone who knows nothing about the night sky -- will appreciate.

About Dr. Brian Schmidt

As the leader of one of two teams that have made perhaps the greatest astronomical discovery in recent times, Dr. Brian Schmidt is a celebrated astronomer and astrophysicist.

It was recently announced that he won the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics--along with Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess--for their observations which led to the discovery of the accelerating universe. 

Put simply, Dr. Schmidt and his team used data from supernovae (exploding stars) and expected to find the universe’s rate of expansion was slowing down.  According to The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, they instead found that the light emitted by more than 50 distant supernovas was weaker than expected, a sign that the universe was expanding at an accelerating rate.  Dr. Schmidt and his team were rechecking data they thought must be wrong, but were eventually forced to conclude that it was not the case.  

The Nobel jury said their discoveries had changed mankind's understanding of the universe.

Having received degrees in both physics and astronomy from the University of Arizona, U.S.-born Dr. Schmidt went on to earn a PhD in astronomy from Harvard University in 1993.  At Harvard, he met his future wife, an Australian, and his emigration to Australia soon followed.  In 1995 the opportunity to work in Canberra at Australian National University was a big attraction, and 17 years later Dr. Schmidt continues to hold a position there as a distinguished professor.  In addition, Dr. Schmidt is leading the SkyMapper Telescope Project, with its mission to robotically create the first comprehensive digital survey of the entire southern sky.  

As no stranger to awards, Dr. Schmidt was awarded the Australian Government's inaugural Malcolm McIntosh award for achievement in the Physical Sciences in 2000, The Australian Academy of Sciences Pawsey Medal in 2001, the Astronomical Society of India's Vainu Bappu Medal in 2002, and an Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship in 2005.

Dr. Schmidt has extensive public speaking experience, having given last year's Halley Lecture (named after Edmund Halley) at Oxford, and a Perimeter lecture in Canada and the Sackler Lecture at Princeton.  He is also an occasional guest on ABC Television’s Catalyst.

Despite Dr. Schmidt’s work with the stars, we know you’ll find him a “down to earth” man.  Small World Journeys is honoured to have him speak exclusively to our guests in Cairns before the occurrence of the total solar eclipse. You will be one of a handful of people to hear his presentation and ask him any astronomy-related questions you have afterwards during Q & A time

Interested in hearing Dr. Schmidt discuss astronomy and in the total solar eclipse of November 14, 2012? Join one of our adventures!