Rogers Explores the Diversity of the Cosmos

Warren Rogers, professor of physics at Westmont, explores how modern physics views the cosmos in a lecture Tuesday, March 4, from 7–8:30 p.m. in Winter Hall’s Darling Foundation Lecture Hall (Room 210) at Westmont. The Paul C. Wilt Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Lecture, “Unity and Diversity in the Cosmos: Astrophysics and the Origin of the Stuff from which We Are Made,” is free and open to the public. Refreshments and informal discussion will follow the talk.

This lecture will focus on cosmic evolution and element genesis — how the initial singularity of the Big Bang created all of the chemical elements in our biosphere.

“From the viewpoint of modern physics, the universe appears to be a place of astonishing simplicity and unity,” Rogers says. “And yet we witness breathtaking beauty, diversity and mystery everywhere we look.”

Rogers will discuss the complexity of the universe from an academic standpoint to educate and probe important discussion concerning God, science and human existence.

Rogers, who earned a doctorate from the University of Rochester, specializes in experimental nuclear physics and cosmic ray muon detection. For the last 16 years, Rogers has organized the Conference Experience for Undergraduates, where students who have conducted nuclear physics research present their work to the larger professional community. He has taught at Westmont since 1994.