Caltech Science Symposium to Feature Physicists Kip Thorne and Stephen Hawking

PASADENA—The California Institute of Technology will host a day of public lectures on Saturday, June 3, in Beckman Auditorium, to honor Kip Thorne, a leading Caltech astrophysicist who is noted for his commitment to bringing cutting-edge science to the public.

These talks, which are free to the public, will include eminent scientists and writers. Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking will join Thorne, along with Igor Novikov, head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Center of the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Popular science writers will include Timothy Ferris, Pulitzer-nominated author of 10 best-selling books, including The Whole Shebang, and Alan Lightman, novelist/physicist and senior lecturer in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The schedule begins at 9:45 a.m. with opening remarks by Caltech's president, David Baltimore. At 10 a.m. Stephen Hawking will present a lecture on "Protecting the Order of Things in Time." Following at 11 a.m. is Igor Novikov with "Can We Change the Past?" At 2 p.m. Alan Lightman will discuss "The Physicist as Novelist," and at 3 p.m. Timothy Ferris will present "The Popularization of Science." The series concludes with featured speaker Kip Thorne at 4 p.m., presenting his lecture on "What Lies Ahead?" At 5:30 p.m. Lynda Williams, the "Physics Chanteuse," will delight guests with a family-oriented musical presentation.

Caltech's Beckman Auditorium is located on Michigan Avenue south of Del Mar Boulevard in Pasadena. Free parking is available. For more information call the Caltech Ticket Office at (626) 395-4652 or 1-888-2CALTECH (222-5832).

Contact: Jill Perry (626) 395-3226 jperry@caltech.edu

Visit the Caltech Media Relations Web site at: http://www.caltech.edu/~media