Colloquium: Dr. Joseph Silk, Johns Hopkins University

ABSTRACT: One of our greatest challenges in cosmology  is understanding   the origin of the structure of the universe, and in particular the formation of the galaxies.  I will describe how the fossil radiation from the beginning of the universe, the cosmic microwave background, has provided a  window for probing the initial conditions from which structure evolved and seeded the formation of the galaxies, and the outstanding issues that remain to be resolved.  I will address  our optimal choice of future strategy in order to make further progress  on understanding our cosmic origins.