Within galaxies, feedback mechanisms between the black hole at their centers and the surrounding environment can regulate the evolution of the galaxy and the growth of the black hole itself, Michael Wise argues in his inaugural lecture as Professor Observational High-Energy Astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam. Wise is general and scientific director at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research.

Location

Aula – Oude Lutherse kerk, Amsterdam

Date

November 30, 16:30 hrs

Summary

Change Engines: Feedback in the Universe at all Scales

Feedback mechanisms are found everywhere in astrophysical systems. In the case of galaxies, the interaction between the black hole at their centers and the surrounding environment can regulate the evolution of the galaxy and the growth of the black hole itself. This process is commonly known as black hole feedback and operates on an incredible range of scales, from individual stellar systems, to driving the formation of the largest structures in the universe. The metaphor of feedback is also a powerful one on human scales and is pervasive in academia and in our daily lives. In this lecture, I will explore the theme of feedback which has woven through so much of my research and my life, and the power it holds to improve our science and ourselves.