Since the dawn of man, physics has had an increasingly important impact on our daily life. It is often considered the most fundamental of all the natural sciences and its theories attempt to describe the behavior of the smallest building blocks of matter, light, the Universe and everything in between. The Academy's panel discussion series The Physics of Everything will unite some of the most vibrant public intellectuals and communicators of today for 6 independent explorations for the general public that reflect on the current state of modern physical sciences, its greatest mysteries and future endeavors, and philosophical significance for our understanding of reality and the spiritual dimension of human existence. The Series will ponder some of the BIG Questions that continue to challenge our thinking about the universe and its origins, including:
• Are there limits on our ability to learn about the universe and is it plausible for divine intervention to play a role in the natural phenomena that science is unable to explain?
• Can physical sciences solve the mystery around the emergence of human consciousness and are we as free as we think we are?
• To what degree does a scientific approach to the world allow us to step beyond human ethics?
The Series will run between March 14–June 20, 2016 at the Academy's 300-seat conference center in NYC and will be supported by a comprehensive promotional campaign, outcomes assessment, and the proceedings made freely available to a global audience through a suite of enduring educational dissemination materials, including 6 simulcast Webinars, a 6-part Podcast Series, and an Academy eBriefing that will archive video multimedia and a written summary of the entire Series proceedings. Collectively, we expect the Series to benefit 1,350+ in-person attendees; 900+ Webinar participants; 15,000+ Podcast listeners, and 2,100+ eBriefing viewers in a 12-month period — a total reach of 19,350+ beneficiaries during the grant period.
