Join us for a unique and inspiring evening with Brother Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory in Kaikōura.
Thursday 7th August | 6.00pm – 7.15pm | Mayfair Theatre, Kaikōura
Doors open at 5.30pm. Entry will be on a first come first basis. While the event is free to attend, a koha towards the Trust’s ongoing work to help protect the natural darkness of our skies would be warmly welcomed.
Brother Guy is returning to Aotearoa New Zealand for the fourth time, drawn once again by the beauty of the Southern Hemisphere skies. During his visit, he will share reflections that bridge astronomy, theology, and science, offering a rare opportunity to hear from one of the world’s leading voices at the intersection of faith and space exploration. Kaikōura holds particular interest for Brother Guy this year, following our recent recognition as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. We’re delighted to welcome him to our community.
Talk Title – When Science Goes Wrong: The Cult of Intelligence – The desire to see yourself as smarter than average—and the fear of looking like you’re not — can be seen from schoolyard taunts to scientific or religious skepticism. Eugenics was one egregious example of how this temptation could lead to seriously wrong science; wrong both morally, and scientifically. What are the roots to this worship of “intelligence”, and what does it tell us about how we evaluate science, faith, and each other?
Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ, is an American Jesuit brother and planetary scientist, currently serving as the Director of the Vatican Observatory and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. He is known for his research on meteorites, asteroids, and the evolution of small solar system bodies, as well as his popular writings on astronomy and faith. He holds degrees from MIT (SB, SM) and the University of Arizona (PhD in Planetary Science) and has worked in astronomy at Harvard and MIT before entering the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1989.
Br. Guy has been at the Vatican Observatory since 1993, curating the meteorite collection and conducting research. He was appointed director in September 2015 by Pope Francis. His research focuses on the physical properties of meteorites and asteroids, including their spectra and how they relate to the evolution of the solar system. He is the author of several popular books, including “Turn Left at Orion” (with Dan Davis) and “Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?” (with Paul Mueller, SJ). He is also a popular speaker on the topic of faith and science, and serves on the governing boards of various international scientific organizations.
Special thanks to Ata Rangi Lodge for providing accommodation and Moana Skies for the dinner for Brother Guy Consolmagno and special guests.
Read the Star newspaper article published on Tuesday 15th July 2025.