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The Temple Chevalier Lecture 2026/27: Astronomy, God, and the search for elegance
The 2026/7 Temple Chevalier Lecture is titled 'Astronomy, God, and the search for elegance' and will be delivered by Brother Guy Consolmagno, Director Emeritus of the Vatican Observatory. Scientific theories must do more than just satisfy the data; they must do so in a mathematically "elegant" way.
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Kepler, Maxwell and Einstein are examples of scientists who found a sense of aesthetic "rightness" directed their scientific intuition to theories they could express rationally, mathematically, leading to deeper insights about nature. We'll examine examples of astronomical images of the stars and planets, going from an emotional appreciation of their beauty to an understanding that satisfies reason as well. Ultimately, this link between "elegance" and rational truth has profound theological implications.
Wednesday 14 October 2026, 4.30pm, Applebey Lecture Theatre (W102)
Department of Geography, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE