Robinson Film Center Shreveport, LA
Dr. Lee Sawyer
Director of Chemistry and Physics, Louisiana Tech University
Particle Fever— How to Chat About Dark Matter, Supersymmetry, and Particle Physics on Date Night
Program Description
Dr. Sawyer discussed how to chat about dark matter, supersymmetry, and particle physics on date night.
Presented At
Robinson Film Center Shreveport, LA
Film Synopsis
As the Large Hadron Collider is about to be launched for the first time, physicists are on the cusp of the greatest scientific discovery of all time—or perhaps their greatest failure.
Particle Fever follows six brilliant scientists during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider, marking the start of the biggest and most expensive experiment in the history of the planet, pushing the edge of human innovation. As they seek to unravel the mysteries of the universe, 10,000 scientists from over 100 countries joined forces in pursuit of a single goal: to recreate conditions that existed just moments after the Big Bang and find the Higgs boson, potentially explaining the origin of all matter. But our heroes confront an even bigger challenge: have we reached our limit in understanding why we exist?
About the Speaker
Dr. H. Lee Sawyer is the academic director of chemistry and physics at Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Sawyer received his PhD in 1991 in physics from Florida State University, and his BS in 1985 in physics from Northeast Louisiana University. His awards and recognitions include the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2008), Louisiana Tech Engineering & Science Foundation Outstanding Service Award (2008), Spruell Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Science (2004–present), Virgil Orr Undergraduate Junior Faculty Award (2003), W.J. Spinks Distinguished Professor of Physics from Louisiana Tech University (2000), Physics Program Chair (1999–2003 and 2005–2011), and Outstanding Achievement in Research Award from Louisiana Tech College of Engineering and Science (1998). He is a member of Sigma Xi research honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma (SPS) physics honor society (and Advisor for the Louisiana Tech chapter), Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and Mortar Board honor and service society. He is also a member of the American Physical Society, including A.P.S. Division of Particles and Fields and A.P.S. International Physics Group; the American Association for Engineering Education; the Society of Physics Students (and has served on the SPS national council); and the Fermilab Users Association (where he has served on the executive committee). Dr. Sawyer is a particle physicist, and has worked on a number of particle physics experiments in the United States and abroad. He is the principal investigator for the Louisiana Tech High Energy Physics group, and has over 450 peer-reviewed published papers..