Biography
Biography: Manuel Bautista
Abstract
Astronomy, arguably the oldest of all physical sciences, has been the source of much our current understanding of the fundamentals processes that shape the physical world. Thus, it was through astronomical observations that atoms were recognized and their nature was understood. Since then, astronomy and atomic physics have progressed jointly and interdependently. In this talk, I review such progress in astronomy and atomic physics up to the present. I show that atomic physics for astrophysics is today as vibrant and important as ever. Then, I describe some of the work we carry out at Western Michigan University. Finally, I discuss some pressing
questions for the future, whose answers will require major theoretical and experimental advances.