Living with a star - an encounter with Robert Walsh

An interview.

with Robert Walsh

and with Greg Foot

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To say that the Sun is important is a bit of an understatement. We are here because it is here, providing all the light, heat and energy required for life to have evolved on our planet. However, our closest star is far from a well-behaved, quiet neighbour. The Sun is not simply a featureless, smooth ball, but changes dramatically over a period of about 11 years. Following a time of quietness, when there are few solar flares, our Sun begins to rage for 5 to 6 years, spewing out billions of tonnes of million degree, electrified gases into space. Then it is back to quietness again and the cycle repeats.

Sometimes, these solar storms head our way, creating beautiful aurora (the northern lights), but they also have the capacity to knock out satellites, blow power transformers and increase the amount of radiation experienced by astronauts. It is vital for us to study and understand this "ultimate neighbour from hell".

About Robert William Walsh

Currently Robert is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics and Mathematics at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. His area of research is Solar Physics, where he uses space-based solar observatories (solar observing satellites) to monitor our closest star and then set-up sophisticated super-computer simulations to try and reproduce what we observe. He is married to Heather and has two children, Matthew (aged three) and Emma (aged 6 weeks). Thus, free-time is somewhat of an alien concept at the moment but if Robert does manage to create a free evening he loves going to the cinema (last film he saw was "War of the Worlds"); he is very involved with a local church in Preston; he reads crime-thriller novels; Robert is beginning to improve his digital photography skills and is football-mad (Manchester United and Preston North End fan, please do not hold this against him!).

Some weblinks: Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, Transition Region and Coronal Explorer

This lecture will be webcast on Tuesday 6th September, at 12.45. The webcasting of this lecture sponsored by the University of Central Lancashire