Quantum
Information Science (QIS) Seminar
(CSI 991 - 006)
Science Showcase,
Presenter: Professor Menas Kafatos, Dean of the School
of Computational Sciences,
Title: What Quantum Theory Has to Do with
Consciousness
Abstract: Implications for philosophy of recent
experimental results that confirm some counterintuitive aspects of the way
matter behaves will be discussed. It will be shown that a generalized
principle of complementarity is pervasive not only in physical theories such as
cosmological models of the universe, but also in the construction of all human
realities. Details will be presented about Bells inequalities for quantum
mechanical measurements as well as recent experiments which imply that even
remote parts of the universe are "entangled." It will be argued
that consciousness can no longer be divorced from the way science
operates. The result is that this entails a new way of understanding the
universe - one that could obviate much of the current conflict between science
and religion while providing at the same time a basis for valuation that is
better suited for coordinating all human experience.
About the Author: University Professor of Interdisciplinary Science and
Director, Center for Earth Observing and Space Research (CEOSR); and Dean,
School of Computational Sciences (SCS); and Department of Physics. Ph.D.,
Physics, MIT, 1972. Author or editor of 12 books, 128 articles in
astronomy and astrophysics (1973-2000), 8 Articles in cosmology and quantum
theory, 11 Articles in Brain science/consciousness and quantum theory, and 46
Articles in Earth system science, remote sensing, and data systems. The
science citation index shows more than 1,940 citations of his work in
professional journals, proceedings and books. Principal Investigator (PI)
or Co-Investigator on 55 astronomical observational programs to include PI on
the EOSDIS Core System alternative architecture, PI on several prototype Earth
Science Data Information System grants, PI on multi-year Cooperative Agreement
grant with NASA's GSFC, PI on Cooperative Agreement with the Naval Research
Laboratory (NRL), PI on NASA ESE Earth Science Information Partner (ESIP)
program, PI on 4 NASA Applications grants, VAccess-Mid-Atlantic Geospatial
Information Consortium (MAGIC), more than 50 grants and contracts from a
variety of sources including ONR, NASA, NSF, and NRL. Director of the
largest GMU research center (CEOSR), Member of the Science Steering Committee
(Sand & Dust Program, WMO), Head of the Partnership Committee (Federation of
Earth Science Information Partners), and Chair of several international
meetings.