Heswall U3A members can register for a place at the event by clicking here
10.30 Monday 26th October Speaker Meeting
The Universe and its Companions by Chris Collins.
We are very privileged to welcome a distinguished scientist as our October Speaker.
Chris Collins is currently Professor of Cosmology (Emeritus) at Liverpool John Moores University.
The Universe and its Companions
How big is reality? After all, it is only 100 years ago that we recognised the fuzzy “spiral nebulae” seen through the telescopes of the day as distinct isolated galaxies, just like the Milky Way but laying far beyond in deep space. Today our observable vista of the cosmos extends almost back to its creation, revealing billions of galaxies, the birth and evolution of stars and a Universe of astonishing scale and complexity.
But, in analogy with the Milky Way and its companion galaxies, what if there are a huge number of other isolated companion universes beyond our own, possibly an infinite number of them – the multiverse? You may well respond that this sounds like science fiction, but it is argued that the multiverse picture emerges naturally from our best scientific theories that describe the vast cosmos and the smallest quantum scales.
Chris will explore how the idea of companion universes gained traction within physics and wider culture; what problems the multiverse might help to solve; and whether the idea can be experimentally tested. Finally, in the interest of balance, he will consider if the multiverse idea is an extension of physics beyond its limits and whether the debate has crossed the threshold from speculative science into the realm of philosophical metaphysics. It should be a fascinating ride through the frontiers of science.
Chris was born in Kent and grew up in Greenwich and graduated with a BSc in Physics in 1982) and a PhD in Astrophysics in 1985 from Imperial College. After holding research fellowships at the universities of Edinburgh and Durham, he moved to Liverpool John Moores University in 1994, becoming Professor of Cosmology in 1998 and serving as Head of the Astrophysics Research Institute for 4 years.In 2025 he graduated from the University of Liverpool with an MRes in Philosophy, a subject in which has a life-long interest.
He currently lives in Irby with his wife Jill, they have two grown up children.
This promises to be a very absorbing topic delivered by an expert which will be very popular with our members so don’t forget to register promptly for your place.
Image 1: just a small section of the Virgo galaxy cluster taken with the new 8.4m Vera C. Rubin Observatory telescope in Chile. Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Image 2: Depiction of the multiverse. Credit: Getty Images
