Astrophysicist to Explore Intersection of Science and Religion

Saint John's Bible at Champlain College

Dr. Anton Koekemoer will talk about the intersection of science and religion at Champlain College on Monday Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Auditorium. He will reflect on how images from the Hubble Telescope influenced illustrations in the St. John's Bible.Creation Page Web

As a research astrophysicist at the Hubble Space Telescope, Koekemoer will highlight some of the exciting astronomical discoveries about the universe. Some discoveries include, distant galaxies, black holes, giant clouds of star formation, and other discoveries revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories.

With advancements in science and knowledge about the universe, deeper questions about the meaning of our existence through the perspective of religion may be considered. From his own views as a Christian, Koekemoer will dive into how our current scientific understanding of the universe can be reconciled in harmony with religion.

In preparation for this discussion, all are welcome to visit the Miller Information Commons to see one of seven volumes of the he Heritage Edition of the Saint John's Bible currently on display at the Miller Information Center at Champlain.. The St. John's Bible is the first hand-written and hand-illuminated Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine monastery since the invention of the printing press. The Heritage Edition is a full-size, fine art reproduction of the seven-volume original. This innovative piece was made by historians, artists, and theologians who crafted their own fine-art representation on a timeless narrative and incorporated many modern-day references in the art.

To learn more about the St. John's Bible at Champlain College, click here.


Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and over 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain's distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition. For the fourth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's 2019 "America's Best Colleges,” and a “Best Value School” and is ranked in the top 100 “Regional Universities of the North” and in the top 25 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Champlain is also featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges for 2019 as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada and Great Britain and is a 2019 College of Distinction. For more information, visit champlain.edu.