Colloquia

The measurement of the violation of parity symmetry in electron scattering has proven to be a powerful technique for exploring nuclear matter and searching for new fundamental forces. In the Standard Model of particle physics, parity violation can only occur through the weak interaction. Precision measurements of this symmetry breaking can test the completeness of this description of the weak force at low energies. I will describe the result of one such measurement - the recently completed Qweak experiment - along with the experimental challenges and triumphs.  Future measurements in the field of parity-violating electron scattering will also be reviewed, including other Standard Model tests and experiments using the weak force to determine the size of a heavy atomic nucleus.