Dr. Alan Lightman reflects on our cosmic insignificance and significance
COLOMBO – Acclaimed American physicist and best-selling author, MIT professor Dr Alan Lightman, delivering an inspiring lecture at the American Center in Colombo on Friday (31) reflected on our cosmic insignificance, as well as the immense significance of our unique position as observers of, and in, the universe.
Dr Lightman’s lecture, which focused on spiritual materialism and our feelings of connection to nature and other people, fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas and highlighted the enduring cultural ties between the two nations.
The lecture was attended by members of Sri Lanka’s academic, arts and sciences community and First Lady Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe.
During his visit to Sri Lanka, which was supported by the US Embassy, Dr Lightman paid tribute to his late friend, Sri Lankan artist Jayantha Premachandra, by inaugurating an exhibition organized by the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation. The exhibition celebrates the creative legacy that Premachandra had planned to present in Boston before his passing.
The US embassy in a statement issued on Friday said Dr. Lightman’s visit symbolized the power of art to forge connections and underscores the United States’ commitment to deepening mutual understanding between Sri Lankans and Americans.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung in her welcome address said that as a renowned theoretical physicist and a novelist, Dr. Alan Lightman bridges the gap between art, the humanities, and science. “His lectures on the creative and scientific processes, the role of intuition and imagination, the work of Einstein, the meeting of science and faith, and the wonder and fragility of human nature—what it means to be alive—resonate deeply with us all,” she added.
She also the embassy was honoured to host visionary Americans like Dr. Lightman at the American Center to engage with audiences, strengthening the ties between our nations and fostering mutual understanding.
Dr Lightman is a visionary American physicist and international best-selling author who bridges the gap between science and the arts, exploring the intersections of science, spirituality, and philosophy. A graduate of Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Lightman has held prestigious roles at institutions including Cornell, Harvard, and MIT. His novel Einstein’s Dreams was an international bestseller and has been translated into over thirty languages. Both a distinguished physicist and an accomplished novelist, Lightman was the first professor at MIT to receive a joint appointment in the sciences and the humanities. Beyond academia, he founded the Harpswell Foundation, which empowers women leaders in Cambodia and beyond through education and leadership training.
-ENCL
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