Christopher W. Stubbs, a Harvard University astronomer and experimental physicist, is scheduled to give the 2025 CIERA Annual Public Lecture at Northwestern University this week. His presentation will focus on the data being collected by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which has recently begun operations.
Stubbs' lecture, titled “A New Eye on the Universe Opens: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory,” will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 in the Ryan Family Auditorium at Northwestern’s Technological Institute in Evanston. The event is free and open to all members of the public. Media representatives are asked to RSVP with Amanda Morris.
During his 90-minute talk, Stubbs will discuss how data from the Rubin Observatory could contribute to scientific discoveries ranging from monitoring potentially dangerous asteroids to advancing knowledge about dark matter and dark energy. According to Stubbs, this information may help track hazardous asteroids, remap cosmic expansion history, and provide new perspectives on both dark matter—thought to make up most of our galaxy's mass—and dark energy.
Stubbs has been involved with key aspects of the Rubin Observatory project, including camera construction management and leading efforts in flux calibration system design. He also served on its Project Science Team.
The event is organized by CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics), which supports research and education in astrophysics at Northwestern University through fellowships, undergraduate research opportunities, visiting researcher programs, seminars, and outreach activities that connect astrophysics with fields such as computer science, engineering, planetary science, education and the arts.