In-Person Lectures
Fall Series 2024
The Inspiring Universe Experience
Presented by Tom Vassos and Ian Tripp
Tuesdays, October 15 to December 3, 2024
10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
To be offered as in-person lectures ONLY
Neither online lectures nor recordings will be available for this in-person series.
Location: Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, Applewood Hills Room
1500 Gulleden Dr., Mississauga. (Vicinity of Burnhamthorpe Rd. E. and Dixie Rd.)
Times
9:30 am Doors open
10:00 am Lecture
11:00 am Refreshment break
11:20 am Q & A
12:00 pm Lecture ends
Venue In-person lecture presentations only. Online and recorded sessions will not be available.
Cost $40 per person for this lecture series
Registration begins on Tuesday, September 3 at 10:00 a.m. and tickets will be on sale until Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 11:50 p.m. After October 3, it will not be possible to register for individual lectures or a partial lecture series.
The Inspiring Universe Experience
Embark on an exhilarating celestial journey with Tom Vassos, author, astronomer, university instructor and Canadian TV personality, and Ian Tripp, amateur astronomer and astrophotographer. With stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, Tom and Ian will describe many astronomy and space exploration mysteries and discoveries, including the Big Bang, supernova explosions, massive black holes, alien life in the Universe and time travel.
This odyssey will take us billions of kilometres to the far side of the Universe, then return us to planet Earth as enlightened explorers with newfound wisdom of our true home in the cosmos.
October 15: Tom Vassos, The Stunning View from Planet Earth
Discover celestial marvels in Earth’s astronomical theatre in the sky. Witness natural wonders, from the transient beauty of fire rainbows to breathtaking nebulas. Explore mysterious doomsday meteorites – 4.5-billion-year-old time capsules that reveal secrets of Earth’s inception.
October 22: Tom Vassos, Expedition to the Bizarre and Extreme Cosmos
Dare to venture into the wild frontiers of the cosmos that defy imagination, exploring the extremes of our astounding Universe. Immerse yourself in celestial titans such as supernova explosions, wormholes and Black Holes – cosmic monsters with voracious appetites.
October 29: Tom Vassos, Amazing Time Travel Movies and Real Science
Explore the fascinating world of time machines and the intersection of imaginative Hollywood movies with the reality of time travel based on cutting-edge astrophysics. Embark on a voyage to unravel the mysteries of time travel into the past or future – and the baffling paradoxes that arise.
November 5: Tom Vassos, The Quest for Alien Life – Are We Alone?
Where are all the aliens? Why haven’t we met them? What do they look like? Are UFOs really visiting aliens? When and where might we discover alien life in the future? Living in the golden age of astronomy and space exploration, we could uncover the answers in our lifetimes.
November 12: Tom Vassos, A Superhuman View of the Cosmos
Imagine what the skies would look like if we all had superhuman vision. Experience stunning astrophotographs of nebulas, galaxies and supernova explosions hidden to the naked eye. Explore the afterglow of the Big Bang as we unveil concrete evidence of our cosmic genesis.
November 19: Ian Tripp, Aviation and Space Pioneers
Explore humankind’s thrilling adventures in flight, from daredevil skydiving stunts to jet-powered hoverboards and flying cars. Take a voyage to the International Space Station and experience life with heroic astronauts, celebrating the bold spirit of exploration that propels us to the stars.
December 3: Ian Tripp, Revealing Our Star-Studded Origins
Embark on a captivating journey to unveil the cosmic origins of elements that constitute our very being. Explore the profound connections linking us to the farthest extremities of space. Imagine visiting alien worlds where you would possess superhuman powers that defy earthly limitations.
Tom Vassos is an astronomer, university instructor, founder of Cosmologists Without Borders, member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and author of several books in the series The Inspiring Universe Collection. Mr. Vassos is a science communicator who is frequently invited as a guest expert on radio and television, and he is the Astronomer-in-Residence for Holland America and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Mr. Vassos delights in imparting his knowledge to space enthusiasts, young minds and lifelong learners everywhere.
Ian Tripp
Ian Tripp has been fascinated with outer space since his dad told him about Sputnik in the 1950s. He has devoted thousands of hours over six decades exploring astronomy and the space race, getting informal education at various events at the University of Toronto and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Ian is a big fan of science fiction, especially Star Trek and Star Wars. As an amateur astronomer/astrophotographer, he uses stabilization binoculars with solar filters and a Hestia smartphone telescope. Ian’s astronomy memories include several eclipses, transits of Venus and Mercury, and especially giving night sky tours to strangers.