ROCHESTER, NY—Audience members at the Rochester Museum & Science Center's (RMSC) first Richard C. Shultz Science on the Edge lecture of the season learn about new concepts of time. The lecture, entitled, "Twilight of the Big Bang: Revolutions in Human and Cosmic Time," is given by Adam Frank, Professor of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, University of Rochester. The program begins at 7:30pm on January 18.

Frank discusses new theories of cosmology and how the most intimate and personal experience of time has always been wedded to a changing view of the cosmos. Now that cosmology is poised to reinvent itself beyond the Big Bang, it can only mean that we are also poised to reinvent cultural time. There are two paired revolutions in time taking place in our era and we will watch them both unfold before our eyes.

Frank's research includes the general area of theoretical astrophysics, and in particular the hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic evolution of matter ejected from stars. Current research topics include jets from young stellar objects, bipolar outflows from evolved stars such as planetary nebulae and massive stars.

The RMSC Science on the Edge Lecture Series, now in its 30^th year, continues with four additional programs:

Wednesday, February 1 at 7:30pm

"The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012"

Anthony Aveni, Russell Colgate Professor of Astronomy and Native American Studies, Colgate University

Wednesday, February 29 at 7:30pm

"The Science of Extreme Storm Chasing"

Reed Timmer, Extreme Meteorologist on Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers

Wednesday, March 21 at 7:30pm

"Extinct Giants, Shrinking Dwarfs: A Paleontologist's Perspective on Madagascar's Vanishing Ecosystems"

Kathleen Muldoon, Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Dartmouth College

Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30pm
"The Re-convergence of Music and Science"

Mark F. Bocko and David Headlam, Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering (the College) and Music Theory (Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester

Each presentation is followed by a brief reception where visitors can enjoy snacks, beverages and meet the presenter. All lectures, unless otherwise specified, are held in the Eisenhart Auditorium on the RMSC campus at 657 East Avenue at 7:30pm Wednesday evenings. Ticket prices include:

Series Tickets:
RMSC Members: $45 adult, $25 student*
General Public: $55 adult, $30 student*
Single Lecture Tickets:
RMSC Members: $14 adult, $7 student*
General Public: $15 adult, $8 student*
*students through grade 12 or college students with valid college ID.

Call (585)697-1942 or visit www.rmsc.org for additional information and to purchase tickets.

For high-resolution headshots/images and additional information, contact Debra Jacobson, Director of Marketing and Community Affairs, RMSC at (585)697-1944 or debra_jacobson@rmsc.org.

Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) receives major funding from Monroe County. RMSC includes a planetarium, nature center and science/regional history museum. The Rochester Museum & Science Center stimulates broad community interest and understanding of science and technology, and their impact—past, present, future—on our lives. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@rocRMSC).

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