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John
W. Keck, having been awarded NASA’s prestigious Graduate Student
Research Program fellowship, received his physics doctorate from Columbia University in 2001. He wrote his dissertation in experimental/observational astrophysics under the direction of Charles Hailey: “Observations of Black Hole Candidate GRS 1758–258 by the GRATIS Balloon-borne Telescope and Other Observatories”. Dr. Keck has pursued his interest in philosophy since his undergraduate days at the University of Houston, when he minored in political philosophy (analytic and Nietzsche were the only other choices). He later studied outside the university with such philosophers as Rev. James Albrecht, and Rev. Robert A. Conner. After completing his degree, Dr. Keck held a number of jobs. At Cognitive Arts he worked with a team to develop an online physics course for Columbia University. He taught in New York at Cooper Union and Fordham University, and at American University in Washington, D.C., where he now makes his home. His parents reside in Houston. Dr. Keck was involved in many extra-curricular activities and organizations. As an undergraduate he founded a newspaper and organized special lectures. He continued the latter activity into graduate school, under the auspices of the Augustine Club. He is also responsible for the Club’s extensive homepage and archive, which I might add includes a number of documents that should be of interest to the Institute’s membership. He began writing short stories after taking classes at Columbia’s Creative Writing Program. His current activities include organizing a Love and Responsibility discussion group in D.C. “I’m thrilled to become a part of an organization that is so critical to the future of civilization,” he says. For its part, the Institute is happy to have him. |
Alexander Roman Sich was awarded his doctorate
in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(Cambridge, MA) after spending a unique one and one-half years conducting research in the 30-km Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and successfully defending a thesis which broadly reappraised of the Chornobyl Accident and its consequences. He earned this doctorate in 1994. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY) majoring in nuclear engineering and minoring in physics, while in 1992 he earned a Master of Arts from Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) majoring in Soviet Studies. Dr. Sich is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the International Catholic University—working under the tutelage of Dr. Anthony Rizzi, his dissertation supervisor. After graduating from MIT, Dr. Sich advanced in his talents and experience through positions including Head of the Kyiv Adjunct Office for the Department of Energy’s International Nuclear Safety Program and a senior Project Manager for the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s internationally-financed Shelter Implementation Plan. In September 2003 Dr. Sich started
his current assignment as Senior Regional Project Coordinator with
the Scientific and Technical Center in Ukraine (STCU). The Center finances
projects which channels the military know-how of the scientists of
its recipient states into peaceful civilian applications. Specifically,
it supports the R&D activities of Azeri, Georgian, Ukrainian and Uzbek
scientists and engineers once involved in developing weapons of mass destruction
and their means of delivery—with the goal of supporting the economic development
of these countries by bringing up their scientific capabilities. The
STCU, an intergovernmental organization with the status of a diplomatic
mission, was established in 1993 by several western donor countries and
the European Union, together with Ukraine as a founding recipient member,
and subsequently joined by Uzbekistan, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Dr. Sich is married with five children. He has traveled extensively and speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian. |
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Physics for
Realists:
Devleopment of an
Introductory Modern Physics Text
The Institute for Advance Physics will host its 2nd annual summer
conference with The Jacques Maritain Center
on July 29 and 30. Invited core group leaders from around the
country will meet at The University of Notre
Dame for hands on work sessions for the development of a
physics text targeted for publication by IAP Press. Participants
will also benefit from lectures by IAP faculty and certified members.
Prof. Ralph McInerny will give
the closing address. IAP Director Anthony
Rizzi says the textbook is urgently needed so that advanced
high school and college students can learn “the powerful principles of
modern physics without the powerful error of neglecting its foundation
and context in the broader physica.” One of the conference highlights
will be the launching of the 7 foot IAP water rocket.
IAP is looking for qualified students to participate in a “test
run” of the problem sets once they are developed. Interested physics students
may inquire at info@IAPweb.org. |
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Lifetime Achievement Award
In June, the assembly of the Catholic
Health Association honored Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P., with a medal for Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in applying philosophy to medicine. His work includes a widely used medical ethics text. Fr. Ashley, a Professor emeritus of Philosophy at St. Louis University, MO, is Associate Faculty for the Institute for Advanced Physics. The Institute extends hearty congratulations to Fr. Ashley. |
Anthony Rizzi discusses
science and faith with Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN LIVE Wednesday, September 8 8pm ET/7pm CT. Please call in with your questions!
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| IAP's The Return to Wisdom, a
30 minute DVD summarizing the core problem of the misuse and misunderstanding
of science, is in private screening. Initial reaction to the video
is strongly positive, with people wondering how it is they had never
appreciated the scope of the problem before, but thankful that they do now. Our audio/visual specialist, James Louviere was instrumental in its completion. Our film/script consultant, Frank J. Clark of San Francisco, is now reviewing it for rewrites and further improvements. |
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Calendar Highlights
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Be instrumental in advancing IAP’s mission. With a donation of $50 or more you will receive an autographed copy of the newly released book Send check or money order to: “The Institute for Advanced Physics” PO Box 15030 Baton Rouge, LA 70895 Please include your email address and phone number! And don’t forget to tell us who’s name to address the autograph to in the book. |
