Hawking disciple wins Killam Professorship for elucidating the cosmos
November 2, 2009 - (Edmonton) Maybe it's the wonder inspired by Alberta's big sky, or the effect of the wide-open prairie on an inquiring mind. But for some reason the University of Alberta has always had an uncanny affinity for cosmology and quantum physics.
As early as the 1940s, mathematician Max Wyman (who later became the university's president) was asked to review a paper by Albert Einstein. He responded to the iconic scientist with the words, "I believe there is a rather serious error in your paper... ." It turns out Wyman was right, and Einstein adjusted his theory accordingly.
Decades later, while working as a post-doctoral fellow in the 1970s under the brilliant Stephen Hawking, future U of A physicist Don Page came up with several new solutions to some of Einstein's equations. Soon after, he wrote "the first paper questioning Hawking's arguments for information loss in black holes," said Page. "In 2007 I won my 1980 bet with him on that."
Now well into an illustrious career at the U of A exploring black holes and other mysteries of the universe, Page is among the latest recipients of a Killam Annual Professorship. Among the nomination letters for the professorship was one brief note championing Page's "considerable international reputation," followed by the famous signature: Stephen Hawking.
Page has made numerous contributions over the years to often baffling and speculative field of quantum cosmology-which looks at the effect of quantum mechanics on the creation of the universe, or its early evolution, especially just after the Big Bang-beginning with a doctoral thesis describing the colour of an evaporating black hole. Working closely with Hawking, he made a decisive mark with such ground-breaking discoveries such as the "Page approximation" in black-hole physics, "Hawking-Page-deSitter black holes," the "Page charge in super-gravity" and the "Page-Hawking transition."
Since arriving at the U of A in 1990, Page has continued his elucidation of black holes and other enigmas of quantum cosmology. He has even proposed, in his own words, "a general framework connecting quantum theory to consciousness" that allows for such mind-bending notions as the existence of multiple, or parallel, universes.
"If you consider a universe big enough, there could be identical observers in different places," says Page. "In other words, the probability isn't zero that the same observer might exist in two different locations; there might be a copy of us somewhere else."
The physicist is also highly sought after as an expert commentator. In 1992 he appeared as a consultant and actor in the companion film to Hawking's bestseller, A Brief History of Time. He has been featured in interviews and articles in the New York Times, Science, Scientific American, The Economist and BBC Radio. In honour of the 60th birthday of Werner Israel-the celebrated former U of A cosmologist who pioneered the study of black hole interiors in the '60s-Page brought Hawking to Edmonton for a sold-out public lecture in 1991.
Beyond the illustrious research, Page is described by U of A colleague Wojciech Rozmus as an exceptional teacher and mentor with "an outstanding ability to guide and advise brilliant young scientists. His achievements as a teacher are inseparable from his extraordinary personality as a scientist and a man. Professor Page changes the lives of his students by example."
What sets Page apart from many scientists, however, is his devotion to community service. He is co-founder and president of the Haiti Children's Benefit Foundation, raising thousands of dollars and collecting medical equipment, medicines, clothing, toys and other supplies to send to orphanages and schools in the impoverished country.
According to Rozmus, Page is a "true polymath," devoting considerable attention to the philosophy of science and religion, and once collaborating with professors in the philosophy department to create a seminar series on the subject. A devoted evangelical Christian, he has led discussions in his church community on the relationship between science and faith, something which, according to his former pastor, "is so often problematic for those with religious beliefs."
"I don't really see a conflict between science and religion," says Page, adding that entertaining multiple universes has perhaps made him more open to various arguments for the existence of God.
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