Written by Carolyn Fairbanks. Digital Media by Jessica Sturgeon.
Dr. Hyung S. Choi was on campus this week as a candidate for a faculty position in Physics. Dr. Choi held a colloquium entitled “Knowledge of the Unseen: Contemporary Physics and New Worldviews” on Tuesday in front of students and faculty, who evaluated his presentation. He also lectured in Dr. Lombardini’s Physics II class Wednesday morning.
In the colloquium, Choi looked at the different worldviews of physics through the centuries. “Everyone has a worldview,” Choi began. “The way we see the world affects the way we value things.” It was interesting to hear about how spirituality was such a present topic since the beginning of studying science. As a Communication and English major, it was enlightening to learn a little more about physics and the journey of universe exploration.
One of the things that was made clear was that even with all the new technology and discoveries, we have a long way to go. Choi explained the universe is still 73% dark energy and 20% dark matter. The dark represents what we have no idea about. Choi said this is a “humbling” discovery, and that “visible and invisible matter are made by God.” Dr. Choi holds both an M.A. and Ph.D. from the City College of CUNY and an M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of Mathematical and Physical Sciences for the John Templeton Foundation, Visiting Fellow at St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, Director for Research and Programs at the Metanexus Institute, and Professor of Mathematical Physics and Philosophy of Science at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ.
Hyung was one of the participants in the three-year interdisciplinary dialogue and research program supported by The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the Templeton-Oxford Seminars on Science and Christianity, sponsored at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. The author of four books and numerous essays and articles, Dr. Choi has focused much of his research and writing on the intersection of quantum physics and the Christian faith. For this work, he has received national and international recognition, including receiving the Quality and Excellence in Teaching Award in Science & Religion, an international award given by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS), in Berkeley, CA. In addition, Dr. Choi is a proven grant writer, having secured funds from the American Physical Society, the Metanexus Institute, and the Templeton Foundation.
