The Halley Lectures are a series of annual public lectures hosted by the University of Oxford, in memory of the astronomer Edmond Halley. Currently, some podcasts of the lectures can be found through the Oxford Physics Public Lectures. These lectures aim to promote public understanding and engagement with science, mathematics, and related fields, and to inspire new generations of researchers and students to pursue careers in these areas. They are often delivered May or June each year at the Sir Martin Wood Lecture Theatre of the Clarendon Laboratory
History The tradition of the Halley Lecture in the University of Oxford was founded by Henry Wilde for the 1910 return of Halley's comet. By Wilde's direction, it is to be given annually on a subject related to astronomy or terrestrial magnetism. With time, University expanded their scope to interpret astronomy including astrophysics, and terrestrial magnetism to include "and terrestrial magnetism to include "the physics of the external and internal parts of the terrestrial globe" geophysics. The first Halley lecture Celestial ejectamenta. was delivered by Henry Wilde himself on Tuesday, 10 May 1910.
Purpose The purpose of the Halley Lectures is to bring leading experts in various fields to the University of Oxford, where they can share their knowledge and insights with the public. The lectures aim to promote public understanding and engagement with science and mathematics, and to inspire new generations of researchers and students to pursue careers in these areas.
Format The Halley Lectures are open to the public and are typically well-attended by people of all ages and backgrounds. Each lecture lasts approximately one hour, and is followed by a Q&A session where the audience can ask questions and engage with the speaker.
Topics The topics covered in the Halley Lectures are diverse and reflect the wide range of disciplines within science and mathematics that illuminate astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, cosmogenesis, exobiology, and earth science. Selection of lecturers is made based on timeliness of the topic, their expertise and contributions to their respective fields.
Chronology of Halley Lectures Date Lecturer Title27 October 2022 Amina HelmiDynamics and History of the Milky Way8 May 2019Marc KamionkowskiIs Dark Matter Made of Black Holes22 May 2018Adam ShowmanWeather on Remote Worlds7 June 2017Rainer WeissObservation of the mergers of binary black holes: The opening of gravitational wave astronomy8 June 2016Scott TremaineThe origin and structure of the solar system comet cloud 19 June 2015Peter J. WebsterUnderstanding the Monsoon13 June 2014Eliot QuataertFrom Smooth to Lumpy—the Physics of Galaxy Formation29 May 2013Ewine van Dishoeck Building stars, planets and the ingredients for life between the stars14 June 2012Susan SolomonThe World's Chemistry in Our Hands: Global Environmental Challenges Past and Future11 March 2011Michel MayorOther Worlds in the Universe? The Quest for Earth Twins25 May 2010Brian SchmidtThe Accelerating the Universe24 April 2008George SmootThe History and Fate of the Universe23 May 2007Ron EkersPaths to Discovery in Radioastronomy -Prediction and Serendipity21 May 1985Malcolm LongairUniverse - present, past and future23 May 1972Subrahmanyan ChandrasekharThe increasing role of general relativity in astronomy4 June 1976Charles H TownesInterstellar moleculesTownes, Charles H.. "Interstellar molecules. (A written version of the Halley lectures 1976, delivered in Oxford, 4 June 1976)." Physics-Uspekhi (1979): n. pag. (Usp. Fiz. Nauk; (USSR); Journal Volume: 127:3) https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/563651916 May 1962Hermann BondiPhysics and Cosmology6 May 1955Martin RyleRadio stars and their cosmological significance1 May 1951Jan OortOrigin and development of comets Reprinted as: 16 May 1950Edward BullardThe origin of the Earth's magnetic field12 May 1948Fritz Zwicky Morphological Astronomy3 June 1941William Marshall SmartSea and Air NavigationWilliam Marshall Smart, Sea and Air Navigation: Being the Halley Lecture Delivered on 3 June 1941 Oxford University Press, H. Milford, 1941.16 May 1940Fritz PanethThe origin of meteorites5 June 1939Harold Spencer JonesThe earth as a clock16 June 1938Armin Otto LeuschnerThe minor planets of the Hecuba group28 May 1937Basil SchonlandThe lightning discharge5 June 1935John Stanley PlaskettThe dimensions and structure of the galaxy.8 May 1934Edwin HubbleRed-shifts in the spectra of nebulaeHubble, Edwin Powell. "Red-shifts in the Spectra of Nebulae." Oxford (1934) WorldCat1 June 1933Henry Norris RussellThe composition of the stars19 May 1932Arthur MilneThe white dwarf stars30 May 1930Arthur EddingtonThe Rotation of the Galaxy31 May 1929Gilbert WalkerSome problems of Indian Meteorology20 May 20, 1927Frank Stratton Modern eclipse problemsModern eclipse problems, being the Halley lecture delivered on 20 May, 1927, with notes for the observation of the eclipse of 29 June, 1927 WorldCat28 May 1924John Joly Radioactivity and the Surface History of the Earth17 May 1923George SimpsonScott's Polar Journey and the Weather23 May 1922Harold JeffreysThe Nebular Hypothesis and Modern Cosmogony17 May 1921John Knight FotheringhamHistorical Eclipses12 June 1920Ralph Allen SampsonOn Gravitation and Relativity22 May 1913Louis Agricola BauerThe Earth's Magnetism10 May 1910Henry Wilde Celestial ejectamenta
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