Date: Monday, 19 May 2025, 10:30-12:00 CET
Convenor: EU*Asia Institute at ESSCA School of Management - ESSCA Space Policy Research Group
Venue: ESSCA Paris (Room B606 ; 55 Quai Alphonse le Gallo, 92513 Boulogne-Billancourt) & Online via TEAMS
Professor Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University
Title of talk: The Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of the Milky Way Galaxy
The center of our Galaxy hosts many fascinating objects, one of which is a supermassive black hole with a mass more than 4 million times than the mass of the Sun. Another is a population of filaments distributed throughout the inner few hundred light years of the Galaxy. There are a number of puzzles related to the origins of daily flaring activity of the black hole and how nature produces the shape of the remarkable magnetized filaments in space.
In this talk, Prof. Yusef-Zadeh will present results from his team’s recent work using two of the world’s most powerful observatories: the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa.
JWST’s observations indicate that the intensity of the black hole is fluctuating constantly with multiple flares. Prof. Yusef-Zadeh will show how the origin of these flares is similar to solar flares. As for the filaments, he will present their properties and discuss models of the emission from these mysterious objects.
Click here to learn more about Professor Yusef-Zadeh and his research
Christopher Williams (Professor, Strategy, Entrepreneurship and International Business Department, ESSCA School of Management & EU*Asia Institute)
Title of talk: Exploring the Determinants of Time Allocation on the James Webb Space Telescope
Scientists engage in intense competition to win time on large scale mega-science platforms such as space telescopes. These platforms are often publicly funded and advance mankind’s understanding of the physical properties of nature and the universe.
In his introduction, Prof. Williams will outline a recent study he published in Research Policy on the determinants of allocated time on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the costliest and most advanced space telescope asset ever built.
Our headline speaker and esteemed guest, Professor Farhad Yusef-Zadeh was one of the first scientists ever to be rewarded with time to use JWST for his research on supermassive black holes.
Click here to learn more about Prof. Williams and his research.
Date: Monday, 19 May 2025, 10:30-12:00 CET
Convenor: EU*Asia Institute at ESSCA School of Management - ESSCA Space Policy Research Group
Venue: ESSCA Paris (Room B606 ; 55 Quai Alphonse le Gallo, 92513 Boulogne-Billancourt) & Online via TEAMS
