PHILADELPHIA, PA - Rev. Frank Haig, S.J., Ph.D., professor emeritus of physics at Loyola University, Maryland and Scott Engle, Ph.D., adjunct professor of astronomy at Villanova University and Chestnut Hill College present the lecture, “Red Dwarf Stars and Little Green People?” on Wednesday, October 2, at 7 p.m. at the Commonwealth Chateau, SugarLoaf Hill campus. This lecture is sponsored by the Institute for Religion and Science at Chestnut Hill College. 

Are we alone? The question of whether or not Red Dwarfs can support habitable (life-bearing) planets is becoming a profound one, especially given how numerous they are. This program will present recent research on Red Dwarf Stars and their planets, ponder the question of what difference extraterrestrial life would make for humanity. 

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Father Frank Rawle Haig holds an undergraduate degree and S.T.L. from Woodstock College, Maryland, a Ph.L. from Bellarmine College, and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the Catholic University of America. He joined the physics department at Wheeling Jesuit University in 1963 and served as Wheeling’s president from 1966-1972. 

He has also served as president of LeMoyne College, Washington Academy of Sciences, and the Syracuse Opera Company. He is the younger brother of late United States Secretary of State Alexander Haig. Haig remains active in the University community, and continues to enjoy the vibrant energy of campus life. 

Scott G. Engle, Ph.D. is adjunct professor of astronomy at Villanova University and Chestnut Hill College and has taught astronomy at Haverford College. His work in astronomy includes areas such as the evolution of red dwarf stars and pulsating stars. He received his undergraduate degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Villanova University and his Ph.D. from James Cook University in Australia. 

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Kathleen Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D. at 215.248.7197 or kduffy@chc.edu.