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The
Far-Future Universe: Eschatology
from a Cosmic Perspective A
Symposium sponsored by the
John
Templeton Foundation Chaired
by
Martin
J. Rees Council
Chamber
Pontifical
Academy of Sciences The
Vatican Rome,
Italy (7, 8, and 9 November 2000) The
meeting is supported in full by the John Templeton Foundation. The
organizers are: John Barrow, George V. Coyne, George Ellis, Michael Heller,
Martin J. Rees. A
provisional agenda in four headings: 1.
Physics of the universe: scenarios for the long-range future: (A)
Towards asymptopia: evolution of cosmic structure, death of stars, decay
of atoms, formation and evaporation of black holes, behaviour near
cosmological singularities, etc. What would an eternal cosmos be like at
each era between the present and the final 'omega point'? (B)
Possibility of sudden apocalypse: could our present space (if vacuum
ismetastable) be converted catastrophically into a new kind of space,
governed by different physical
laws? 2.
Mathematics Nature
of complexity. Limits to the amount of information storage in the cosmos and
how it depends on the cosmological model. Simple models for emergent
complexity: cellular automata, 'artificial life' etc. 3.
Biology How
large is the contingent element in evolution? Scenarios and constraints for
alternative evolution on Earth-like planets, for future evolution on Earth,
for other life-forms in quite different habitats, and for the spread of life
(or automata created by life) through the Galaxy and beyond? SETI-related
issues. 4.
Philosophy/theology Preliminary
Agenda
Pre-Symposium
(Tuesday, 7 November) 7:30
p.m. Cocktails
8:00
p.m. Dinner Place
TBD
Day
1 (Wednesday, 8 November) 8:30
a.m. Opening Remarks by Martin
J. Rees 8:40
a.m. Introductory Remarks by George Coyne
Session
1
Perspectives
from Cosmology, Physics, and Mathematics
9:00
- 9:45 a.m. Paul Davies
9:45
– 10:30 a.m. Professor Rees
Coffee
Break 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. 10:45
– 11:30 a.m. John Barrow
11:30
a.m. – 12:15 p.m. George F.R.
Ellis Lunch
12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Name
of Room The
Vatican
Session
1 (continued)
Perspectives
from Cosmology, Physics, and Mathematics 1:45
- 2:30 p.m. Lawrence Krauss 2:30
- 3:15 p.m. Hubert Reeves Tea
Break 3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
3:30
– 4:15 p.m. Andrei Linde
4:15
– 5:00 p.m. Robert J. Russell
5:00
– 6:30 p.m. General
Discussion
7:30
p.m. Cocktails
8:00
p.m. Dinner Place
TBD
Day
2 (Thursday, 9 November) Session
2
Perspectives
from Biology 8:30
– 9:15 a.m. Simon Conway
Morris 9:15
– 10:00 a.m. Stuart Kauffman 10:00
- 10:45 a.m.
General Discussion Coffee
Break 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Session
3 Perspectives
from Philosophy and Theology 11:00
– 11:45 a.m. Stephen R.L.
Clark
11:45
a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Michael
Heller Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Name
of Room The
Vatican
Session
3 (continued)
Perspectives
from Philosophy and Theology 1:30
- 2:15 p.m. Jurgen Moltmann 2:15
- 3:00 p.m. Keith Ward
Tea
Break 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. 3:15
- 4:15 p.m. General Discussion
Session
5
Reaction
and Action 4:15
- 5:15 p.m. Responses from
Distinguished Observers: James Peebles, Allan Sandage, Owen Gingerich, and Vera Rubin 5:15
– 5:30 p.m. Discussion of Next
Steps 6:30
p.m. Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize Ceremony Assembly
Hall The
Vatican 8:00
p.m. Gruber Prize Dinner Salone
Pio IV The
Vatican
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