program pdf

Grants to support bold, innovative research by scientists and essay prizes to inspire a new generation of thinkers exploring these four deep and profound Big Questions: I. What was the earliest state of the universe?

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FRONTIERS

II. Is our universe unique or is it part of a much larger multiverse? III. What is the origin of the complexity in the universe? IV. Are we alone in the universe? Or, are there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system?

International Grant and Essay Competition Celebrating the Centenary of the Birth of Sir John Templeton Led by The University of Chicago Funded by the John Templeton Foundation Donald G. York, Principal: Horace B. Horton Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago

October 12–13, 2012 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE Fifth Floor Conference Center 222 North 20th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Honorary Advisors to this program are the following eight Templeton Prize laureates whose expertise and interests are closely related to the program. John D. Barrow, 2006: Professor of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge Paul Davies, 1995: Professor of Physics, Arizona State University Freeman Dyson, 2000: Professor Emeritus of Particle Physics, Institute for Advanced Study George Ellis, 2004: Professor Emeritus of Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town Michael Heller, 2008: Professor of Philosophy, Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Krakow, Poland John Polkinghorne, 2002: Fellow and former President of Queens’ College, University of Cambridge Martin Rees, 2011: Astronomer Royal Charles Townes, 2005: Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of California, Berkeley

Thursday, October 11, 2012 4:00– 6:00 p.m.

Registration at the conference hotels

7:00–9:00 p.m.

Conference orientation for Essay Winners at Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia

Friday, October 12, 2012 8:00 a.m.

Registration at Franklin Institute (if arriving late Thursday or Friday)

8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast in Conference Center

9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks by Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr.

2:45 p.m.

Barry F. Madore The Observatories, Carnegie Institution of Washington Cognitive Astrophysics Mark Neyrinck Johns Hopkins University Initial Information Folding and Flowing into Complexity

Conference Introduction by Donald G. York Presentations by Grant Winners on

Big Question I. What was the earliest state of the universe?

Sergei Shandarin University of Kansas The Emergence of Complex Structural Patterns: A manifestation of increasing cosmic complexity

15-minute presentations with 7 minutes Q&A David Chernoff Cornell University Detecting Cosmic Superstrings Richard Holman Carnegie Mellon University CosmoArchaeology: Digging for the Initial State 10:15 a.m.

Morning Break [30 minutes]

10:45 a.m.

Presentations by Grant Winners on Big Question I., continued

4:00 p.m.

Free time [90 minutes]

5:30 p.m.

Dinner in Franklin Hall, Franklin Institute Opening Remarks, Donald G. York Introduction of Essay Competition First Prize Winners by George Musser, Contributing Editor, Scientific American Zequn Li (The Charter School of Wilmington; Swarthmore College), Speaking of Stars

Alexander Maloney McGill University Computing the Wave Function of the Universe Parampreet Singh Louisiana State University Probing the genesis of space-time using supercomputers 11:30 a.m.

Boxed lunch in Conference Center [90 minutes]

1:00 p.m.

Presentations by Grant Winners on Big Question I., continued Kostas Skenderis University of Southampton A holographic theory for the very early universe David N. Spergel Princeton University Detecting or Falsifying the Multiverse Presentations by Grant Winners on

Big Question III. What is the origin of the complexity in the universe? Marcelo Gleiser Dartmouth College Emergent Complexity in the Universe: Origin and Limits 2:15 p.m.

Afternoon Break [30 minutes]

Presentations by Grant Winners on Big Question III., continued

Yong Wei Chong Gabrielle, Wellesley College, A Letter to My Dearest Newborn Baby Brother 7:00 p.m.

Seating begins in Franklin Theater for Public Lecture

7:30 p.m.

Brian Greene (Columbia University) Beyond the Big Bang: In Search of Cosmic Origins Public Lecture followed by 15 minute Q&A

8:30 p.m.

Intermission [15 minutes]

8:45 p.m.

Big Questions panel discussion, followed by 20 minute Q&A Panel discussion moderated by George Ellis (TPW 2004; University of Cape Town) Panelists: Marcelo Gleiser (Dartmouth College), Geoffrey Marcy (University of California, Berkeley), David N. Spergel (Princeton University), and Alexander Vilenkin (Tufts University)

Saturday, October 13, 2012 8:00 a.m.

Registration at Franklin Institute

8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast in Conference Center

9:00 a.m.

Welcome, announcements by Donald G. York Presentations by Grant Winners on

Big Question II. Is our universe unique or is it part of a much larger multiverse? Anthony Aguirre University of California at Santa Cruz Testing the Multiverse Matthew Kleban New York University Testing the Multiverse with Cosmic Bubble Collisions Chao-Lin Kuo Stanford University CMB polarization, 21-cm cosmology, and testing the multiverse Given by Matthew Kleban 10:15 a.m.

Morning Break [30 minutes]

10:45 a.m.

Presentations by Grant Winners on Big Question II., continued Wim Ubachs Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Search for Drifting Constants via Extra-Galactic Alcohol Alexander Vilenkin Tufts University Global structure of the multiverse and the measure problem

11:35 a.m.

Boxed lunch in Conference Center [70 minutes]

12:45 p.m.

Presentations by Grant Winners on

Big Question IV. Are we alone in the universe? Or, are there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system? Jonathan I. Lunine Cornell University The search for life in extremely exotic environments: A strict test for Life's cosmic ubiquity Geoffrey Marcy University of California, Berkeley Discovery of Earth-like Planets and Signals from Intelligent Life

1:35 p.m.

Afternoon Break [25 minutes]

2:00 p.m.

Presentations by Grant Winners on Big Question IV., continued Lucianne Walkowicz Princeton University Stellar Lighthouses: Decoding Signatures of Advanced Civilizations in Precision Stellar Photometry

Jason Wright The Pennsylvania State University Constraining the Abundance of Kardashev Type II and III Civilizations From Large Area Infrared Surveys 2:50 p.m.

Intermission [10 minutes]

3:00 p.m.

Essay Awards Ceremony Opening Remarks, Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr. Award presenters Laurence Marschall (Gettysburg College), and Peter Byrne (Investigative Reporter; Science Writer), will be joined by Charles Townes (TPW 2005; University of California, Berkeley), George Ellis, and Paul Davies (TPW 1995; Arizona State University). Presenter for Category 1: Laurence Marschall, with Charles Townes First Prize • Category 1 (College) Yong Wei Chong Gabrielle, Wellesley College, A Letter to My Dearest Newborn Baby Brother Second Prizes • Category 1 Karl Haislmaier, George Mason University, The Emergence of Complexity in the Universe as Viewed from a Holistic Perspective Patrick Olden, University of St. Andrews, How can we know the complex? Third Prizes • Category 1 Annette Hein, Casper College, The Observer's Eye: Human Attitudes are the Other Side of Complexity Tiffany Wu, Northwestern University, From Star-stuff to Cities: The Two Ingredients Needed for Increasing Complexity in the Universe Honorable Mentions • Category 1 Jacob Kelter, Northwestern University, Layers on Layers of Complexity Brendan Lockhart, University of Maryland-College Park, A World of Complexity Yale Michaels, Harvard University, Searching for a Recipe for Cosmological Complexity Taro Yamaguchi-Phillips, University of CaliforniaBerkeley, From Bang to Brain: How Complexity Arises in the Universe John Zanazzi, Northern Arizona University, Defining Cosmological Complexity Category 2 winners on back side >

Saturday, October 13, 2012 (continued) Presenter for Category 2: Peter Byrne, with Paul Davies First Prize • Category 2 (High School) Zequn Li, Charter School of Wilmington, Wilmington, Delaware, Speaking of Stars Second Prizes • Category 2 Nathan Morris, Claudia Taylor "Ladybird" Johnson High School, San Antonio, Texas, Does NonBiological Life Exist in the Universe, and if so, what might the Signatures of such Life be? Anna Thomas, Presentation High School, San Jose, California, The emergence and evolution of evolvability: insight from self-propagating peptides

The year 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of Sir John Templeton, the 40th Anniversary of the Templeton Prize, and the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the John Templeton Foundation. These occasions provide a unique opportunity to honor the extraordinary vision of Sir John Templeton, who regarded cosmology and astronomy as exemplary scientific pursuits that have continually expanded humanity’s vision of the world.

Third Prizes • Category 2 Akshat Mahajan, The Daly College, Indore – School, India, Can The Question of Extraterrestrial Life Ever Be Resolved? Cassandra McCormack, Country Day School, San Jose, Costa Rica, Implications of Extraterrestrial Discovery Elizabeth Mittmann, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, California, Alternatives for Life Not as We Know It? Drew Schaffer, Keystone School, San Antonio, Texas, The Limits of Comprehension: Musings on the Possibilities of Extraterrestrial Life Edward Wollack, Atholton High School, Columbia, Maryland, Irrational Numbers, the Observable Universe, and Dice: A Discussion of Chance Honorable Mentions • Category 2 Amy Cohn, Park Tudor School, Indianapolis, Indiana, New Mythologies: Insights from Structural Anthropology to the Search for Life in the Universe Kingshuk Dasadhikari, Marist Brothers International School, Kobe Hyogo, Japan, Where Life is Concerned, the Universe Needn’t Mimic Earth Lia Tan, Laramie Senior High School, Laramie, Wyoming, Getting Ready for the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life Closing Comments by Donald G. York 5:00 p.m.

Free time [60 minutes]

6:00 p.m.

Reception hosted by the John Templeton Foundation in the Space Command Center Exhibit and talk by Geoff Marcy in Fels Planetarium

This three-year, $5.6 million New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology program, led by Donald G. York, Horace B. Horton Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at The University of Chicago, is timed to take advantage of these special occasions and to celebrate and advance the vision of Sir John Templeton. The program aims to support bold, innovative ideas with potential to expand boundaries, deepen the foundation of scientific inquiry, and catalyze breakthrough discoveries on Big Questions in astronomy and cosmology, through a worldwide science grant competition and a concurrent essay contest for high school and college students. CONTACTS: Donald G. York (Science Program) email: [email protected] Julia Borst Brazas (General Information) email: [email protected] newfrontiersinastronomy.org

New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology: Conference of Award Winners, October 12 –13, 2012 Franklin Institute, Fifth Floor Conference Center, 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia

Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia 201 N 17th St Philadelphia, PA

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Franklin Theater Planetarium

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