Dr. Morrison will discuss the impact of recent discoveries of extra-solar planetary systems. We knew the system of our sun and its orbiting planets about as well as anything in the heavens. But the Solar System seemed unique until 1995! Fifty-some new ones are now known; they challenge our provincial ideas, and suggest a marvelous unfolding in the decades ahead. Morrison is a seasoned lecturer and author with vast experience communicating the excitement of science to the general public.

Philip Morrison is Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT. Together with his wife Phylis, he has written monthly book reports and columns for Scientific American since 1964.

Morrison was a student of J. Robert Oppenheimer at UC Berkeley, receiving his Ph. D. in theoretical physics in 1940. During World War II he worked on the Manhattan Project (atomic bomb) at Chicago and Los Alamos. After the war he was on the physics faculties at San Francisco State, U. of Illinois, Cornell University, and finally MIT. In addition to his work in nuclear physics and astrophysics, Morrison has been active in issues of nuclear weapons and nuclear war.

A major interest has been in promoting public understanding of science, both here and abroad. He has made several episodes for the TV series NOVA and did a mini-series called "Ring of Truth" for PBS. He is author of several books, the best known being "Powers of Ten" (also available as a video) made with the Office of Charles and Ray Eames.

For more information contact: Surendra Singh, Professor & Chair or Shari Witherspoon, Administrative Assistant Tel: 575-2506