The Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics (MCTP) is an organization based in the Physics Department of the University of Michigan whose primary aim is to promote excellence in theoretical physics research in the broadest sense with significant focus on interdisciplinary applications and methods through a program of workshops and conferences, seminars, collaborative and individual research. It also aims to educate graduate and undergraduate students in theoretical physics and to communicate its activities to the general public through public lectures and other outreach activities.

-Gordon Kane, Director

Upcoming Workshops, Conferences and Lectures:

• MCTP Public Lecture: "Exploring the Outer Solar System: Present and Future" presented by Jonathan I Lunine (Professor of Planetary Science and Physics) at the Univeristy of Arizona, Location: 1400 Chemistry BLDG, Thursday, March 27th @ 7:00PM

• MCTP/Astrophysics Colloquia: "The Methane Hydrological Cycle on Titan", presented by Jonathan I Lunine (Prof. of Planetary Science and Physics) at the U. of Arizona, Thursday, March 27th, 340 West Hall @ 4:00 PM.

• MCTP Colloquia: "Black Holes and Gravitational Waves", by Saul Teukolsky from Cornell University, Thursday, April 3rd, 340 West hall @ 1:00 PM (please note new time!)
  
  
• Dark Side II Workshop - May 27-June 14, 2008
  Organizers: K. Freese, D. Huterer, and T. Mckay
  

• Michigan Quantum Summer School - June 16-27, 2008
  Organizers: Luming Duan, Chris Monroe, and Aaron Leanhardt

• 40th Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference - June 26-28, 2008
  Organizers: Eitan Geva and Barry Dunietz

In the News

• BBC News, "First stars 'may have been dark", Feb. 19, 2008
• BBC Radio - Science in Action, Feb. 15, 2008 (Listen to Professor Katherine Freese discuss Dark Stars)
• "First stars might have been powered by dark matter" article from physorg.com, February 12, 2008
  
• Origins of Time's Arrow article from the New York Academy of Sciences, Nov. 16, 2007
• NewScientistSpace, Universe's first stars may have been dark, Dec. 2007
• MCTP Associate Member, Matthew Bowen, is selected as new congressional fellow by APS. Also noted in the University Record.
• MCTP Member Katherine Freese is referenced in the Article "Separation Anxiety: Cosmic collision may shed light on dark matter," in the Science News Online Magazine

Reminder to Full and Associate Members:

• Fiscal year 2009 MCTP proposals are due March 3rd, 2008. View the link "proposal information" for structure and content needed in such proposals.