Stephen Webb (born February 25, 1963) is a physicist and author of numerous popular science and math books, as well as academic publications. Webb was educated at Bristol University (BSc (Hons) Physics – First Class) and, as a graduate student, attended Manchester University (PhD – Theoretical Particle Physics). Webb is currently on the academic staff at the University of Portsmouth, and is a presenter of numerous science-related non-academic talks and academic lectures.[1][2] In 2018, Webb was a featured science speaker at the annual TED conference.[3]
Stephen Webb Ph.D. (physics) | |
---|---|
Stephen Webb | |
Born | |
Nationality | British |
Education | Bristol University (BSc (Hons) Physics – First Class); Manchester University (PhD – Theoretical Particle Physics) |
Known for | Numerous Science and Math books, including If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens . . . Where is Everybody?, as well as academic publications |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | University of Portsmouth[1] |
Website | https://www.stephenswebb.com |
Webb has worked at the University of Cardiff (Physics Department; 1993–95), University of Sheffield (Math & Statistics; 1995–98), University of Loughborough (Math & Sciences; 1998–99), Northumbria University (Information Sciences; 1999–2000), The Open University (2000–2006) and the University of Portsmouth (2006–current).[4] In addition, Webb has been a Member of the Institute of Physics (M. Inst. P.), Chartered Physicist (C. Phys.), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Member of international editorial board (Springer S&F Series), Member of the UK SETI Research Network, and a Project lead for the UK Advance HE Collaborative Award in Teaching Excellence (CATE 2022).[4]
Publications
editNote: Listings of many more books and publications by Stephen Webb are on GoodReads, Webb's WebSite and elsewhere.
Authored books
edit- Webb, Stephen (2023). Around the World in 80 Ways: Exploring Our Planet Through Maps and Data (Hardcover). United Kingdom: Springer. ISBN 978-3031024399.
- Webb, Stephen (2018). Clash of Symbols: A ride through the riches of glyphs 1st ed. 2018 Edition. United Kingdom: Springer. ISBN 978-3319713496.
- Webb, Stephen (2015). If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens . . . Where Is Everybody? - Seventy-Five Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life - 2nd Edition. United Kingdom: Springer. ISBN 978-3319132358.
- Webb, Stephen (2012). New Eyes on the Universe: Twelve Cosmic Mysteries and the Tools We Need to Solve Them (Springer Praxis Books) 2012th Edition. United Kingdom: Springer. ISBN 978-1461421931.
- Webb, Stephen (2004). Out of this World: Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics 2004th Edition. United Kingdom: Copernicus Books. ISBN 978-0387029306.
- Webb, Stephen (2002). If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens . . . Where Is Everybody? - Seventy-Five Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life - 1st Edition. United Kingdom: Copernicus Books. ISBN 978-0387955018.
- Webb, Stephen (1999). Measuring the Universe: The Cosmological Distance Ladder (Springer Praxis Books) 1999th Edition. United Kingdom: Springer. ISBN 978-1852331061.
Edited books
edit- Webb, Stephen (2021). Instant expert: what is the Fermi paradox? – in: All About Space, vol 113, pp 46–47.
- Webb, Stephen (2017). Book review: Learning Analytics Explained – in: Innovations in Education and Teaching International, vol 54(6), pp. 625–6.
- Webb, Stephen (2015). The alpha magnetic spectrometer – in: Patrick Moore's Yearbook of Astronomy 2016, edited by Moore, P. and Mason, J., pp237–256). London: Macmillan Press.
See also
edit- Aestivation hypothesis – Hypothesized solution to the Fermi paradox
- Anthropic principle – Hypothesis about sapient life and the universe
- Astrobiology – Science concerned with life in the universe
- Cosmology – Scientific study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe
- Drake equation – Estimate of extraterrestrial civilizations
- Earliest known life forms – Putative fossilized microorganisms found near hydrothermal vents
- Extraterrestrial life – Life not on Earth
- Fermi paradox – Discrepancy between lack of evidence of advanced alien life and apparently high likelihood it exists
- Fermi problem – Estimation problem in physics or engineering education
- Interstellar travel – Hypothetical travel between stars or planetary systems
- Panspermia – Hypothesis on the interstellar spreading of primordial life
- Rare Earth hypothesis – Hypothesis that complex extraterrestrial life is improbable and extremely rare
- Search for extraterrestrial life – Effort to find civilizations not from Earth
- Wow! signal – 1977 narrowband radio signal from SETI
References
edit- ^ a b Staff (2023). "Academic Staff - Stephen Webb". University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ Staff (2023). "Academic Staff - Stephen Webb - Activities". University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ Webb, Stephen (2018). "About Stephen Webb - TED Speaker - Academic and writer at University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom". TED. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ a b Webb, Stephen (2023). "Stephen's Webb - About Me". StephensWebb.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.