麻豆传媒 — March 24, 2016 (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) 鈥 An active nickel mine two kilometres below the Earth鈥檚 surface is the last place most people would expect to find an ultra-clean lab for exploring astrophysics and cosmology. On Apr. 13, Nobel Laureate Art McDonald will discuss how researchers created a 1,000-tonne heavy-water-based neutrino detector at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), and explain the research that earned both the 2015 Nobel Prize and 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

The lecture, titled 鈥淎 Deeper Understanding of the Universe From 2km Underground,鈥 is part of the , and will be webcast live April 13 at 7 PM EDT on the Perimeter Institute website and via partner organizations.

McDonald and collaborators found clear evidence for neutrino flavour change, which also requires that neutrinos have non-zero mass. This evidence led to a modification of the Standard Model for elementary particles 鈥 the accepted understanding of the various matter that forms the building blocks of our universe.

The Director of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) Scientific Collaboration since 1989, McDonald is also a Professor Emeritus at Queen鈥檚 University in Kingston, Canada, and a member of Perimeter Institute鈥檚 Board of Directors. He has also served as a professor at both Queen鈥檚 University and Princeton University, as well as a Research Officer at AECL Chalk River Laboratories. McDonald鈥檚 many awards and honours include being named a Companion of the Order of Canada, co-recipient of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, and a recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics as part of the SNO Collaboration.

Following his talk, McDonald will answer questions from the online and in-house audience 鈥 including questions submitted prior to and during the talk via and (using the hashtag #piLIVE). Questions are welcomed from everyone 鈥 aspiring scientific explorers, school classes, physics and chemistry buffs, and general science enthusiasts.

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View past PI Public Lectures and events, and find further details about PI鈥檚 research, training, and outreach activities at .

________________________________________LIVE WEBCAST DETAILS鈥 What: Art McDonald, A Deeper Understanding of the Universe from 2km Underground鈥 When: Wednesday, Apr. 13, 7 PM EDT 鈥 Where: Live at Perimeter Institute, webcast online at 鈥 about the live webcast鈥 Pose questions for McDonald by tweeting using the hashtag #piLIVE鈥 More info: ________________________________________

ABOUT PERIMETER INSTITUTE is the world鈥檚 largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today鈥檚 theoretical physics is tomorrow鈥檚 technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Eamon O鈥橣lynnManager, Media Relationseoflynn[at]perimeterinstitute[dot]ca(519) 569-7600 x5071

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