Lightman draws connection between artists and scientists
Honors convocation recognizes academics, history instructor
By Kami Lewis
Staff Reporter

When Marian Red, a senior political science major, got engaged, her fiancé described his work as a theoretical physicist in complex equations she didn’t understand. All that changed after they read “Einstein’s Dreams” by Alan Lightman.

“When he talked about the projects he was working on, he became much more lyrical and began explaining the concepts to me, not just the technical stuff,” she said.

Daniela Munguia/SKIFF STAFF Alan Lightman, green honors chair professor, spoke at Honors Convocation Thursday. He discussed the importance of converging arts and science.

Red was able to thank Lightman, an adjunct professor of humanities, physics and creative writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in person Thursday after he spoke at Honors Convocation.

Approximately 400 faculty and students attended the speech and presentation of the 2002 Honors Faculty Recognition Award. History instructor Sara Sohmer is recipient of this year’s award.

Lightman, whose other novels include “Good Benito” and “The Diagnosis,” drew comparisons between scientists and artists and urged students and faculty to find a passion in life and pursue it.

Scientists and artists both use “free invention,” Lightman said. Scientists using limited imagination to create postulates, and novelists to create believable reactions for characters that correspond with the reader’s experiences, he said.

Lightman said that while scientists must limit their imaginings to those that agree with the laws of physics, novelists must limit their work to what agrees with human nature.

Writers and scientists also have an intense passion for their work, Lightman said.

“This compulsion is both a blessing and a burden,” he said. “A blessing because the creative life is a gift filled with beauty and not given to everyone, a burden because the call is unrelenting and can drown out the rest of life.”

Lightman said life without passion is like being asleep.

“I urge you to find your passion . . . whatever it is you love to do, whether in the classroom or outside the classroom,” he said. “Then you will be awake — then you will be alive.”

Kami Lewis
k.e.lewis2@student.tcu.edu

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