April 5, 2023
MILWAUKEE — Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J., director of the Vatican Observatory and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, will deliver Marquette University’s Rev. George V. Coyne, S.J. Lecture, “Your God is Too Small,” on Wednesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Weasler Auditorium, 1506 W. Wisconsin Ave.
The annual lecture is hosted by the Department of Physics in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. The lecture is open to the public and registration is not required. Media interested in covering the lecture should contact Kevin Conway at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
Brother Consolmagno obtained his Bachelor of Science in 1974 and Master of Science in 1975 in Earth and planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in planetary science from the University of Arizona in 1978. He was then a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the Harvard College Observatory and continued as postdoc and lecturer at MIT.
In 1983, Brother Consolmagno left MIT to join the U.S. Peace Corps where he served for two years in Kenya teaching physics and astronomy. Upon his return to the U.S., he served as assistant professor of physics at Lafayette College where he taught until his entry into the Jesuit order in 1989. He took vows as a Jesuit brother in 1991, and studied philosophy and theology at Loyola University Chicago and physics at the University of Chicago before his assignment to the Vatican Observatory in 1993.
Brother Consolmagno has co-authored two astronomy books: “Turn Left at Orion” and “Worlds Apart.” He is also the author or co-author of four books exploring faith and science issues, including “The Way to the Dwelling of Light,” “Brother Astronomer,” “God’s Mechanics,” and “Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?” He also edited “The Heavens Proclaim” and, since 2004, he has written a monthly column on astronomy for the British Catholic periodical, The Tablet.
The Rev. George V. Coyne, S.J. Annual Lecture in Astronomy and Astrophysics was established in 2005 in honor of Father Coyne, former director of the Vatican Observatory. In that role, he led a team of Jesuit astronomers in conducting cutting-edge astronomical research and in developing new telescopes and other instrumentation for studying the cosmos. The lecture series honors the tradition of excellence in research exemplified by Father Coyne by bringing an outstanding astronomer or astrophysicist to the Marquette campus to give a public lecture explaining their research.
About Marquette University
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
About Kevin Conway
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
