3 April 2024

10:55 – 11:40

Amphi 2

Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo

Professor Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo is an internationally renowned expert in the study of supermassive black holes. An associate professor in the Department of Physics at Université de Montréal, her work has had a major impact on our understanding of the coevolution of galaxies and black holes. After completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Université de Montréal, Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo obtained a doctorate in astrophysics at the University of Cambridge. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University as a NASA Einstein Fellow. In addition to winning a host of research excellence awards, including a Canada Research Chair, Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo has been awarded principal investigator time on the world’s largest telescopes. She is also an ardent defender of diversity, and co-founded the Parité sciences project.

Are black holes the key to tomorrow’s sustainable energy?

Long perceived as the pinnacle of power and energy efficiency, nuclear power was thought to surpass the energy capacity of traditional fossil fuels by thousands of times. However, the Universe conceals phenomena that far eclipse the efficiency of nuclear power: black holes. These mysterious entities, so extraordinary that even Einstein doubted their existence, are proving to be the most fascinating and enigmatic objects in the Universe. Their existence, now indisputable, marks a key role in cosmic dynamics. This lecture will plunge you into the captivating universe of black holes. We’ll learn how these entities, beyond their crucial role in cosmic architecture, could one day be transformed into an inexhaustible source of clean, sustainable energy. Let us take you on a journey where science and mystery meet, revealing the infinite possibilities concealed by these silent giants of space.