Laser inventor Charles Townes to give Gold lectures March 29 and 31

Ithaca, NY, March 26, 2004--Nobel laureate Charles Townes, inventor of the laser and in recent years an astronomical explorer using an array of moveable infrared telescopes, will present the Thomas Gold lectures in Cornell's Schwartz Auditorium, Rockefeller Hall, March 29 and 31. Townes, who is University Professor of Physics emeritus at the University of California-Berkeley, will present his first lecture, "Characteristics of Old Stars Measured by Infrared Interferometry" -- aimed at a specialized audience -- on Monday, March 29. His second lecture, "Logic and Uncertainties in Science and Religion" -- for a general audience -- is on Wednesday, March 31. Both lectures start at 4:30 p.m. and are free and are open to the public. For information call 607-254-4630.