Lecture for IYA 2009 by Prof. Kavan Ratnatunga

'The Role of Astronomy in Modern Society'
by
Prof. Kavan Ratnatunga

Organised by
Young Members' Section,
The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilee observing the moons of Jupiter in 1609. 2009 is also the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Darwin who published his Origin of the Species in 1859. Both have led to our current scientific understanding of the evolution of the universe and life within it.

The presentation will also address the role of Astronomy in Modern Society, including the understanding of the dangers of global warming and Near Earth Objects.

Date: Monday, 23rd March 2009

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Venue: IESL Auditorium, 120, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.

All Are Welcome!

Event Flyer

Selected Publications of Lecturer

ApJ = Astrophysical Journal
AJ = Astronomical Journal

Ratnatunga, K. U. Griffiths, R. E. & Ostrander, E. J. 1999, "Disk and Bulge Morphology of WFPC2 galaxies: The HST Medium Deep Survey database" A. J. 118 86-107.

Ratnatunga, K. U. Griffiths, R. E. & Ostrander, E. J. 1999, "The Top Ten List of Gravitational Lens Candidates from the HST Medium Deep Survey" A. J. 117 2010-2023 .

Ratnatunga, K. U., Upgren, A. R. 1997, "Kinematics of Common Dwarf Stars: A Maximum Likelihood Analysis." Ap. J. 476: 811-828.

Ratnatunga, K. U., Ostrander, E. J., Griffiths, R. E., & Im, M. 1995, "New 'Einstein Cross' Gravitational Lens Candidates in Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 Survey Images." Ap. J. 453 L5-L8.

Ratnatunga, K. U., Griffiths, R. E., Casertano, S., Neuschaefer, L. W., & Wyckoff, E. W. 1994, "Calibration of HST wide field camera for quantitative analysis of faint galaxy images." A. J. 108 2362-2382.

Ratnatunga, K. U., & Yoss, K. M. 1991, "Metalicity and Velocity distribution of Giants towards the Galactic Poles." Ap. J. 377 442-461.

Ratnatunga, K. U., & Casertano, S. 1991, "Absolute magnitude calibration using Trigonometric Parallax: Incomplete, Spectroscopic samples." A. J. 101 1075-1088.

Ratnatunga, K. U. 1990, "Comparison of GSC photometry in three Southern Fields." A. J. 100 280-289

Ratnatunga, K. U., & van den Bergh S. 1989, "The rate of Stellar Collapses in the Galaxy." Ap. J. 343 713-717.

Ratnatunga, K. U., & Freeman, K. C. 1989, "Field K giants in the Galactic Halo II." Ap. J. 339 126-148. 1989ApJ...339..126R

Ratnatunga, K. U., Bahcall, J. N., & Casertano, S. 1989, "Kinematic Modeling of the Galaxy I. The Yale Bright Star Catalog." Ap. J. 339 106-125.

Ratnatunga, K. U. 1988, "Distance independent Study of Moving Groups." A. J. 95 1132-1148.

Posted in: IYA 2009