Talk:Cyril Ponnamperuma
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I was privileged to have Cyril Ponnamperuma as a part time professor of Chemical Evolution at the University of Maryland. After one lecture, where he was particularly brilliant and passionate on the subject of astro-biochemistry, I cornered him and broached the following question: "I can understand why life evolved, but what I want to know is - why is there anything at all?"
He deeply furrowed his brow and shyed back over this potentially religious query, but then - due to my body language and expression - he better understood my question. His frown converted into a broad smile and he answered:
"Ah - your looking for a physical interpretation!"
He then paused thoughtfully, and with great confidence in science, and a youthful glimmer in his eye, continued:
"We're still working on that."
Dr. Ponnamperuma had a profound influence on my life-long pursuit of philosophy. From his inpiration I later created a six piece sculpture on the subject of "pre-big bang evolution" entitled: "A Stitch in Time."
He will be missed, but during his time here he contributed more to civilization than most people will ever realize.
Jim Stuart; Austin, Texas USA
