Science meets Sci-Fi: Professor Heymans explores the cosmos at Glasgow Worldcon (event news).
In a universe where the mysteries of the cosmos twirl majestically around us, Glasgow 2024 is set to bring a stellar addition to its lineup. Professor Catherine Heymans, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, will grace the event with her presence, albeit virtually, making her one of the special guests at this year’s Worldcon. Known for her expertise in peering into the dark corners of the universe, Professor Heymans is not just any observer of the skies; she’s a trailblazer testing the very limits of our understanding of gravity, challenging us to think beyond Einstein.
For readers of SFcrowsnest, the first online sci-fi magazine, this news is particularly thrilling. Science fiction and real-world science are two sides of the same coin, inspiring and influencing each other in a continuous loop of creativity and discovery. Professor Heymans herself echoes this sentiment, expressing her excitement about participating in Glasgow 2024. “I’ve always loved the way that science fiction influences and drives scientists to think even bigger,” she shared, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between science and sci-fi. After a challenging two-year battle with Long Covid, which she bravely fought while continuing her research, Worldcon marks her much-anticipated return to the public stage.
Her journey back to sharing her insights with the world is facilitated by the convention’s online accessibility, a testament to the evolving nature of global gatherings in the digital age. Before her illness, Professor Heymans was no stranger to diverse audiences, gracing stages at music, art, philosophy, comedy, TED-x, and science festivals with her presence. Her participation in Glasgow 2024 is not just a personal milestone but a beacon of inspiration, showcasing resilience and the unyielding pursuit of knowledge.
Esther MacCallum-Stewart, chair of Glasgow 2024, couldn’t hide her delight at having Professor Heymans join the event. “She exemplifies the best that Scotland has to offer by looking upwards, forwards, and even across dimensions, in order to understand who and what we are,” MacCallum-Stewart said, underscoring the professor’s groundbreaking work and its significance to our understanding of the universe.
Professor Heymans’ accolades speak volumes about her contributions to the field of astrophysics. As the first woman to be appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland in its two-century history and the youngest recipient of the Royal Astronomical Society’s William Herschel medal, her achievements are both historic and inspiring. Beyond her academic and research accomplishments, Heymans is a seasoned communicator, contributing to BBC Radio and TV and authoring publications that bridge the gap between complex scientific concepts and public curiosity.
As Glasgow 2024 draws closer, the anticipation builds not just for the chance to delve into the latest in science fiction but also for the opportunity to hear from one of the leading minds in observational cosmology. The 82nd World Science Fiction Convention promises to be an event where the boundaries of imagination and reality blur, inspired by the likes of Professor Catherine Heymans, who continues to push us to look beyond our current horizons and dream of what lies in the dark, unexplored spaces of our universe.
