From the Stars to Earth: The Role of Isotopes in Illuminating the Universe

A new research frontier has emerged in the past decade: producing and studying exotic, short-lived isotopes to understand their role in the complex reaction networks that drive stellar burning and explosions such as novae and supernovae. The ability to compare astrophysical observations with laboratory data is critical. This talk will examine world-wide efforts to understand the origins of the chemical elements which make life possible.