Professor John Brown (Astronomer Royal for Scotland) may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but during his Royal Society of Edinburgh's Christmas Lecture it will be white rabbits and black holes he will use to demonstrate a little bit of festive magic.

Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow, John Brown has established himself as scientist, teacher and researcher of international distinction.

Presented at Inverness Royal on December 8 2003, the Christmas Lecture is entitled: "Black Holes and White Rabbits", where Professor Brown will use his knowledge of "magic" to illustrate how black holes are the weirdest objects in the universe.

He will show that their huge gravitational fields have bizarre effects on space and time around them and that they may even be the birthplace of new universes.

"I was delighted to be asked to give the RSE Christmas Lecture this year, especially in the Highlands. It is my remit as Astronomer Royal, and one of my personal passions, to promote astronomy throughout Scotland so it's great to be heading North for this one," explains Professor Brown.

Black holes raise many interesting questions: What are they? How do black holes form? What do they do to space and time? How can we see them? Are we in a black hole?

A talented magician and gifted communicator, Professor Brown's presentation of unusual science has featured in the Open University's Final Frontier series, on National Geographic TV and Tomorrow's World on BBC1. The Royal Society of Edinburgh were therefore in no hesitation in inviting him to present this years Christmas Lecture.

The RSE's Education Officer, Dr Harinee Selvadurai, said, "Professor John Brown has a great talent for communicating his passion for science and astronomy and sharing his knowledge in a fun and engaging manner. I'm delighted that our Christmas lecture is to be given by a speaker of international distinction and an Astronomer who is also very down to earth."

The Christmas Lecture starts 6pm at the Inverness Royal Academy on Monday 8 December. Tickets are priced £2 (£1 concession) and are available from Inverness Royal Academy School Office (Tel: 01463 222884). All welcome.

For more information please contact Mike Findlay, at the University's Press Office on 0141 330-8593, or Stuart Brown at the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Press Office on 0131 240 5126 or email: sbrown@royalsoced.org.uk.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is a registered educational charity and an independent organisation which is working to promote the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland. Further information about the RSE can be found on its website at the RSE Website.

Professor John Brown is the 10th Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Regius Chair of Astronomy, at The University of Glasgow. He is Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Group Leader at Glasgow and is an Honorary Professor at the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

First published: 3 December 2003