Mercyhurst faculty combine efforts to launch Eclipse lecture series
Mercyhurst University faculty are pooling their resources to offer a free, public lecture series supporting the college’s observance of “The Eclipse within our Gates.”
While the total solar eclipse that will fill the skies over Erie is slated for April 8, Dr. Meng Wang will kick off the speaking engagements on Friday, April 5, with “Celestial Omens: Eclipses in Eastern Astrological Traditions.” Her talk is at 6 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall.
On deck are Drs. Clint Jones, Joe Johnson, Nick Lang, and Brad Treece, who will offer an overview of the celestial phenomenon on Saturday, April 6, at 4 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Their presentation is titled “Unveiling the Cosmos: The Science behind the Eclipse.”
Other faculty will wax poetic as they share “Verses of Light: A Poetic Salute to the Sun and Moon” on Sunday, April 7, in Luke’s Landing at 6 p.m. Sharing their talents are Drs. Alice Edwards, Brian Reed, and Christy Rieger.
Also on Sunday, Dr. Katie Duda will speak about “Red Stars and Cosmic Dreams: Early Soviet Propaganda and the Space Imaginary.” Her talk is at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall.
The series continues Monday as excitement heightens for the debut of the eclipse that afternoon. Earlier in the day, Dr. Will Meyer will address “Indigenous Science, Ancient Astronomers, & Eclipse Prediction in the Distant Past.” He speaks at 10 a.m. in Walker Recital Hall.
Then at 11 a.m., also in Walker Recital Hall, Drs. Gerry Tobin, Rich McCarty, and Jim Snyder share their expertise in “Eclipse of the Mind, Spirit, and Cosmos: A Convergence of Psychology, Religion, and Philosophy.”
For a further explanation of the lecture topics, please visit Mercyhurst’s Eclipse within our Gates website to view the complete schedule.