Astronomy Professor Presents “Bolt from the Blue,” a Lecture on Lightning, Sept. 24

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Joseph Dwyer, Florida Institute of Technology professor in the Department of Physics and Space Sciences, will present “Bolt from the Blue” on Sept. 24. The free lecture on lightning will be held on campus in the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex, Room EC118, at 8 p.m.

Lightning strikes our planet about three million times per day and kills more people than hurricanes or tornados. Despite our familiarity with lightning, scientists still don’t understand how lightning works. In this presentation, Dwyer will discuss what we do and don’t know about lightning, including some new, never-before-seen results.

An internationally noted lightning researcher, Dwyer’s research is funded by several major grants, including one from the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Weather-permitting, roof-top public star viewing will follow the lecture.

The F.W. Olin Engineering Complex is located on West University Boulevard. For more information, call (321) 674-7207 or visit www.fit.edu/aapls.