Humanity has always looked to the sky for answers, from ancient civilizations aligning their monuments to celestial events, to modern observatories probing the farthest reaches of space. This talk explores how our quest to understand the cosmos connects across time, weaving together the insights of archaeoastronomy, cutting-edge astrophysical research, and visionary plans for the observatories of tomorrow.
By studying ancient astronomical knowledge and the ways early societies experimented with celestial phenomena, we uncover how fundamental questions about the Universe were first posed. We then journey to the present, where powerful instruments and computational models reveal the intricate structure and evolution of stars, galaxies, and cosmic matter. Finally, we look ahead to the next generation of telescopes and technologies; projects designed to expand the limits of detection, precision, and discovery. Together, these perspectives form a continuum of curiosity and innovation, showing how humanity’s evolving relationship with the sky continues to shape our understanding of the Universe and our place within it.
Featured guest speaker Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton is an Assistant Professor, David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Price: Free of charge
CBC: Listen to the broadcast of this excellent lecture here: www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas
Questions? Email science@smu.ca
Tickets: Free, you must reserve a ticket for this event: