The Universe Story as a Modern Myth: A Physicist's Perspective - St. Columba, Inverness

IONA LECTURE SERIES

Where Arts & Science Meet Humanity

The Universe Story as a Modern Myth: A Physicist's Perspective

An Evening Lecture and Conversation with
Professor Jonathan Halliwell 
Imperial College London

Tuesday, August 7 at 7:00 pm

Science, and physics in particular, has developed an extraordinarily elaborate and detailed picture of cosmology, from the big bang 14 billion years ago to the present day. We know very much about every stage of the universe, from its infancy, to the formation of galaxies, stars and planets, and through our knowledge of geology and biology, we know much about the appearance of life on Earth. But science has developed so quickly as to have vastly outstripped our ability to truly grasp its implications for humanity. Today, many people from a number of different backgrounds are finding ways to rework the story of the universe into a potent mythological tale for our times, the Universe Story, thereby filling an important gap where conventional science alone remains silent. In this talk, Professor Halliwell will explore the background science in this burgeoning field, emphasizing the realms in which some modern scientific theories indicate the existence of realities very distant from ordinary human experience. In particular, Halliwell will explore how work on the “Universe Story” supports our human need to feel more integrated into the cosmos, and how it fits into older philosophical and spiritual traditions.

Jonathan Halliwell is currently a Professor of Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London. A former PhD student of Stephen Hawking, one of his main research interests is quantum cosmology, which is the application of quantum theory, the theory of the very small, to the very early universe before the big bang, which gives a physical picture of how the universe actually started. Through his association with Brian Swimme, Jane Riddiford and colleagues at the educational charity Global Generation in London, he became very interested in the “Universe Story” as a mythological framework which could provide a sense of place, purpose, and inspiration in the education of young people.  He has taken part in the creation and presentation of a number of educational events for young people, in which children were invite to express their own relationship to the universe through writing, music, art and dance. His scientific webpage may be found at:http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/j.halliwell