The University of New Mexico (UNM) has announced that John Mather, renowned for his pioneering contributions to our understanding of the Big Bang, is set to return to the university. He will discuss the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and its preliminary results. Mather was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for his involvement with the Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite (COBE).
According to a press release by UNM, Mather will provide an intriguing overview of Webb's images and discoveries in his lecture titled "Opening the Infrared Treasure Chest with JWST." Recognized for his groundbreaking work on COBE, Mather will delve into JWST's potential to decode the universe's narrative, highlighting the telescope's achievements since its launch.
"The JWST opened its great golden hexagonal mirror suite within weeks of its perfect launch on Christmas morning 2021, and by summer, the first results were pouring in," said Mather. "Who are we, where do we come from, are we alone? I will talk about these profound questions, how we know the story of the expanding universe (aka. Big Bang), how we built the JWST, and what we’ve discovered."
Richard Rand, chair of the UNM Department of Physics & Astronomy, expressed enthusiasm about Mather's visit. "We're so excited to welcome John Mather back to UNM. His visit in 2014 was memorable, with a capacity audience in Keller Hall for his public talk that spilled over onto the stage," said Rand. "Now he is back to tell us about the first results from the JWST, for which he served as senior project scientist for almost 30 years. Expect lovely pictures and surprising results!"
According to information from NASA's Webb Team Biographies webpage, Mather holds positions as a Senior Astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Senior Project Scientist on the James Webb Space Telescope. He is a distinguished figure in infrared astronomy and cosmology, having played a vital role in leading the proposal efforts for the Cosmic Background Explorer mission.