About the Science Café

Brian Hart, Ph.D., is the Founder, and current Director, of the Southern California Science Café --- also colloquially known as SoCal Science Cafe.  Get to meet Brian on this page.  Hart is the first Ph.D. graduate of the Center for Cosmology at the University of California, Irvine.

Research Interests and Previous Work

My research conducted for my dissertation was in the field of study of the structure and evolution of the Universe through X-ray observations.  I really wanted to work in the astronautical engineering fields of Space Transportation and Electric Propulsion all along, however my educational background is as it is because I want to couple an advanced understanding of Physics to astronautical engineering in order to develop Warp travel.  My educational and research work is as follows:

Education

Ph.D. Physics, January 2008
University of California
Irvine, CA

M.S. Physics, June 19, 2004
University of California
Irvine, CA

B.A. Physics and Mathematics, cum laude, May 20, 2002
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN

Research

Ph.D Dissertation:

Evolution of Substructure in Galaxy Clusters as Observed in the X-Rays

Dissertation Committee:
Professor David Augustin Buote
Professor James Steven Bullock
Professor Elizabeth Jean Barton

June 2002 - May 2006
Cosmology from X-Ray Galaxy Cluster Morphologies for 0.012 < z < 0.201, I and II
Research with Professor David Buote, Physics and Astronomy
X-Ray Astrophysics Group, UC-Irvine

June - November 2000
Feasibility study on use of Microsoft Windows PC Clusters for Distributed Volume Visualization
Internship, Laboratory for Computational Science and Engineering
University of Minnesota Twin Cities Digital Technology Center
Minneapolis, MN

June - August 2001
August 2001 - May 2002
Sensitivity of Packages for the Evaluation of Multicomponent Thermodynamic and Transport Properties
Internship and Undergraduate Senior Research Independent Study Project
Collaborated with Sandia National Laboratories California
Combustion Research Facility
Livermore, CA

I am very interested in pioneering advanced spaceflight propulsion technologies for human spaceflight leading to the Moon, Mars, and the nearest star, through a deft re-management of the U.S. space program guided by an advanced knowledge of astrophysics.

Hobbies, Fun

My hobbies range from going to the UCI Observatory to explore the night sky using telescopes to singing in the Men In Blaque, a UC Irvine resident male choral ensemble.  I play the piano and I sing in the chorus as a second bass, and I have enjoyed singing since the fourth grade.  I have gone on international tours to Central/Eastern Europe, including Poland and the Czech Republic.  In addition, I have sung in the chorus for the Beethoven's Ninth onstage with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra.  I very much enjoy music, whether appreciating it as a listener, listening to the radio, or signing or playing onstage.  My musical goals are to perfect my vocal projection and sonority, to learn how to play the piano better, to learn how to play the organ, and to compose pieces for fun.

Outside of music, I also can be found almost every night of the week at the UCI Observatory, a facility on campus.  I help on an informal basis with the University of California's COSMOS program (whereby bright high-school students get hands-on exposure to university science).   This pretty much involves just hanging around and helping set up telescopes.

In addition, I don't mind enjoying a good book, whether on the bus or at the local coffee shop.  I also like to go to the bar at night, shoot some pool and have some beer (if I am not the designated driver), but only when it's with a group of people.  Given a choice between being alone and hanging out with groups, it's hanging out with groups.  Doing things by oneself gets old.  As far as sports, I like swimming, volleyball, and bowling the most.  I have been known to try my hand at basketball and golfing.

At UC Irvine, when I am not working on my research, you can find me at The Science Café or in the community going out with friends and socializing just having fun, on KOCE or in the Orange County Register, or at the UCI Observatory.  I thoroughly enjoy teaching, and get a kick when people sit up and take interest in science.  Science totally rocks! 

Your Host,
Brian Hart