Dartmouth College professor of physics and astronomy Marcelo Gleiser has won the prestigious Gleiser was awarded the 2019 prize for his work blending hard science with deep spirituality, examining how the study of physics can engage in the world of the unseen.
Gleiser calls science 鈥渁 flirt with the mysterious,鈥� and said it's scientists' job to explore things that aren't yet understood.
鈥淸Science] is a portal for us to engage with something much, much bigger than we are,鈥� Gleiser told VPR. 鈥淎nd in that sense, I find that this pursuit of this engagement with the mysterious is a very spiritual endeavor 鈥� not within particular organized religion, you know, but as something which speaks directly to the human condition. You know, to our urge to understand who we are in this very, very big universe.鈥�
More from NPR 鈥� [March 20]
The Templeton Prize comes with a $1.4 million award. Gleiser said the money is not delegated for research purposes, and he plans to put it toward his retirement, college educations for his five children, and charitable contributions.
of the Templeton Prize include Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.
Listen above to Marcelo Gleiser's interview with VPR's Mitch Wertlieb.
