Los Alamos Women In Science talk
Neutrinos are an elusive particle. Produced by nuclear reactions in all shining stars, trillions pass through the human body every second. What else can they do? That’s what Shannon Cowell of Nuclear Physics (T-16) will speak about at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Bradbury Science Museum.
Cowell’s talk, “From Inside the Atom and Beyond the Stars,” describes the role of neutrinos in astrophysics, and how studies of neutrino interactions with nuclei can help researchers better understand astrophysical systems. The talk is free and open to the public. The talk is sponsored by the Los Alamos Women In Science, a group that strives to create an atmosphere of active communication, support, and assistance among women pursuing careers in science and engineering.
“Neutrinos are one of the most elusive particles,” Cowell said. “They are produced copiously during the evolution of several large-scale astrophysical environments, including the sun. Their interactions with matter, or lack thereof, are directly related to the evolutionary time scale of such systems.”
According to Cowell, the Lab has taken part in several experiments and theoretical studies to better understand neutrinos, and continues to do so.
Cowell received her doctoral degree from the University of Illinois in 2004. She started at the Lab as a post-doc in 2004, becoming a staff member in 2006.
For more information, contact Tinka Gammel of Theoretical Division at 7-9149 or jtg@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
The museum is part of the Laboratory’s Community Programs Office (CPO).
