Copernicus festival underway in Krakow

Krakow - photo CC

Heller describes the event as a meeting place of science and culture.

“Without science, there is no culture. Without science, we would be still swinging from on trees,” he said.

The programme of the Copernicus Festival includes films, concerts and exhibitions inspired by mathematical ideas as well as lectures by world-famous thinkers.

John Barrow will talk about the origin and evolution of the Universe and John Gray about the relationship between science and humanities.

In 2008 Professor Michał Heller received the Templeton Prize for his efforts to bridge science and religion and showing that “the interaction between physics, philosophy and theology can be fruitful without violating the autonomy of science”.

Valued at over 1.6 million US dollars, the Templeton Prize is the world’s largest annual monetary award given to an individual.

Father Heller donated the money for an academic centre in Kraków devoted to research and teaching in science and theology.

Last week, on Poland’s Constitution Day, Professor Heller received the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish state distinction.

Professor Michał Heller was born in 1936. At 23 he was ordained a priest but after a year of ministry in a parish he focused on academic work and research in mathematics, physics and theology.

A Professor at the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Krakow, he has more than 30 books to his credit on a wide range of topics including relativity, quantum mechanics, and the history of science. (mk)