STUDENT SEMINAR:
Astrophysics and the meaning of the universe
Friday, October 4, 2-5pm
Saturday, October 5, 9am-noon
This semester we are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students at Virginia Tech!
This is a 2-day seminar exploring the intersection of science and Christian faith through the discipline of astrophysics. This seminar is designed for students of any major who want to delve into questions of physics and what it means to be a human in this vast universe. This seminar is led by Dr. Daniel Fabrycky, professor of astrophysics at the University of Chicago. No prior knowledge of physics is required to participate!
Students must fully participate in the weekend seminar on October 4 and 5.
- Friday, October 4, 2-5pm, at the Bradley Study Center (dinner included)
- Saturday, October 5, 9am-12pm, at the Bradley Study Center (breakfast and lunch included)
- Students must read in advance 3 brief articles that are an important part of the disucssions
- A recommended, but optional, element is meeting several times in advance of the seminar weekend for discussion.
Students must apply by September 20 in order to participate in this unique opportunity. Space is limited to 15 students.
ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Daniel Fabrycky
Professor of Astrophysics, Univeristy of Chicago
Professor Fabrycky studies the dynamics of extrasolar planets. Over the past two decades, discoveries of planets orbiting other stars have poured in from a variety of different detection techniques, and the resulting menagerie of planetary types and system architectures poses many theoretical issues. Fabrycky studies how the observations constrain the configurations of these exoplanetary systems, as well as how gravitational interactions, tidal effects, and energy dissipation shape them.
MORE ABOUT THE SEMINAR
The ambition of astrophysics has gone from strength to strength, during the past few centuries going from learning about material properties and fundamental laws of the cosmos, to within the last century learning its extent, its origin, and even its hospitality for life. Astrophysics’ potential for asking and answering big questions is attractive to those who want to have a long-lasting impact on human knowledge, beyond developing gadgets and algorithms to a career of philosophical importance. The values of scientific practice, particularly empiricism and the necessity of replication, recognizes deep truths about us that are familiar from Christian anthropology: we are deeply flawed (in thought, word, and deed) and we function best in community with others. In this seminar, we explore the content of modern astrophysics and how science can be embraced as a Christian calling.