Northern Ireland Humanists has announced the appointment of Professor Stephen Smartt, director of the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen’s University Belfast, as its newest patron. As well as becoming a patron of Northern Ireland Humanists, Professor Smartt joins over 150 other entertainers, public figures, and intellectuals who are patrons of the British Humanist Association (BHA).
Born and raised in Belfast, Smartt went to Queen’s University to study physics and applied maths, and later pursued a PhD in astrophysics. After this, he worked in the Canary Islands at the UK’s Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes and became a fellow of the University of Cambridge. Since being appointed professor of astrophysics at Queen’s in 2005, at age 37, he has gone on to win several major awards, including a European Young Investigator Award, European Research Council Advanced Grant, and the Philip Leverhulme Prize in astronomy.
Boyd Sleator from Northern Ireland Humanists welcomed Professor Smartt, saying ‘Stephen’s track record as a scientist and science communicator speaks for itself. We are delighted to have a physicist of his calibre on board with our cause of building a fairer, more secular Northern Ireland.’
On accepting his appointment, Professor Smartt commented:
‘It is an honour to be asked to be a patron for Northern Ireland Humanists. Rational thinking and the scientific process are central to our society and culture. I feel it’s often under threat by groups with preconceived ideas about our world, or those who feel they can ignore inconvenient facts.
‘Science, however, is quite simple: observe the world and test ideas and theories. The theories must match what we see or they are wrong. I get things wrong all the time, but it’s the way we progress. When kids are young, they are full of enthusiasm for asking questions and expressing their wonder about the world. We all need to keep a bit of that youthful belligerence with us as adults.’
Notes
Northern Ireland Humanists is part of the British Humanist Association, the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
The BHA has over 150 patrons supporting its work in various ways through their expertise and prominence in various fields. Existing patrons include significant figures from the spheres of science, philosophy, human rights activism, politics, the arts, and broadcasting. The BHA’s President is the author and comedian Shappi Khorsandi, supported by Vice Presidents Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Professor A C Grayling, and Polly Toynbee. For a full list of patrons, see https://humanists.uk/about/our-people/patrons/