Speaker: Prof. Yin-Zhe Ma (Full Professor & Head of Astrophysics Division, Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University (South Africa))

Time: 10:30-12:00 on Tuesday, January 2th, 2024

Location: Physics Building 106

Abstract: The last two decades saw the fast development of precision cosmology with the advances of modern telescopes. I will give a brief overview of the modern cosmology and highlight its phenomenal successes and distinctive challenges. I will explain why and how the measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation, the relics of the primordial elements, and the galaxy distribution on large scales can improve our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the nature. Then I will discuss its distinctive challenges and the observational frontiers for high-energy physics, highlighting where the new physics may possibly emerge.

Bio: Professor Yin-Zhe Ma obtained his Bachelor's degree in Physics from Nanjing University, a master's degree from the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (supervisor: Prof. Rong-Gen Cai), and a Ph.D. degree in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge (supervisor: Prof. George Efstathiou FRS). He conducted CITA National Fellowship at the University of British Columbia Canada and a research associate at the University of Manchester, and then moved to the University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa as a senior lecturer (2015) and then an associate professor (2018) and a full professor (2021).  In 2023, he moved to Stellenbosch University as a full professor and the founding head of astrophysics division in physics department. He chairs the NAOC-UKZN Computational Astrophysics Centre and the Chinese-South African Forum of Astronomy. He was also an adjunct professor at Purple Mountain Observatory and National Astronomical Observatory China during 2017-2021.