This conference will examine the history of our physical origins, starting with the Big Bang and the creation of our Universe, followed by the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies. Next will come a consideration of how our Solar System evolved and then how Earth and the Moon were created. The conference will conclude by looking at how the continents and oceans on Earth were formed. A follow-on online lecture by Zoom a few days after the conference will look at the origin of life on Earth.

Programme:
Morning Chair:
10:30 Welcome
10:40 Professor Erminia Calabrese (Cardiff University) – The Origins of Our Universe
11:30 Professor Richard McMahon (University of Cambridge) – The Earliest Stars and Galaxies
12:20 Professor John Bridges (University of Leicester) – Formation of the Planets: What We Have Learnt from Sample Return Missions and Meteorites

13:15 Lunch Break

Afternoon Chair:
14:15 Professor Sara Russell (Natural History Museum, London) – The Origin of Our Earth and the Moon
15:05 Professor Thomas Gernon (University of Southampton) – Origins of the Earth’s Continents and Oceans
16:00 Tea/Coffee break
16:30 Summary of the Day’s Proceedings – Professor Chris Lintott (University of Oxford)

There will be a conference dinner at St Cross College in the evening following the end of the conference with an after-dinner talk by Pat Daly (Gemmological Association of Great Britain) on the history of platinum from its origin in stars to its discovery and uses on Earth.
Booking to attend the conference dinner can be made here: www.oxforduniversitystores.co.uk/conferences-and-events/st-cross-college/happ-centre/physical-origins-from-the-big-bang-to-earth-one-day-conference-in-person

Registration to attend this conference is free but booking is required for both in-person attendance and for the online livestreaming. You can find the registration links here: www.stx.ox.ac.uk/event/happ-one-day-conference-physical-origins-from-the-big-bang-to-earth