New to Cosmology?
Cosmology can be described as the study of the Universe as a whole. People who carry out cosmology research are called cosmologists and they work to understand things like how the Universe began, how the Universe has changed with time, why it looks the way it does and what the Universe will look like in the future. Cosmologists use theory, simulations and observations to try to answer these questions and further our understanding of the Universe.
Cosmology research here at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation covers a range of topics including inflationary models, the large-scale structure of the Universe and cosmological models of gravity. The ICG is also active in astrophysical research, including stellar population modelling and galaxy evolution. For a full list of topics please see our Research Overview page.
One of the best way to find out more about cosmology is to talk to a cosmologist! For a full listing of all recent and upcoming public outreach events by members of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation see our Events page. We have also made a series of videos in collaboration with the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries that can be viewed on our multimedia page.
More about Cosmology
There are several introductions to cosmology elsewhere online, such as:
- Introduction to cosmology produced by the WMAP group at NASA
- Cambridge Cosmology, Public Home Page
Ned Wright’s Cosmology Tutorial is a more advanced guide to cosmology, based on lectures given at UCLA. Of course there is a wealth of cosmology articles on wikipedia, but we cannot attest to their accuracy.
Become a Cosmologist
Most cosmologists come from a Physics or Maths background, completing an undergraduate degree in one of these subjects before continuing on to research at a postgraduate level. Physics and maths courses at the University of Portsmouth include several units in astronomy and cosmology.
The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation takes several new PhD students on each year, an announcement will typically appear on the News page in January to start in September. Find out more about studying with us by clicking here.
Work experience is a great way for students to gain an insight into what it’s like to be a cosmologist. The ICG offers work experience for Year 10 and Year 12 pupils, as well as summer placements for undergraduate students.
