University News

Colloquium to Explore Connections Between Physics and Educational Psychology

March 26, 2025

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Western Illinois University's School of Education and the Department of Physics will host a joint presentation looking at a Nobel Prize-winning dissipative structures theory that can be present in matter, life and society, while still following the laws of physics at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 3, in Horrabin Hall, room one.

The colloquium, "Science that Deals with Complex Systems: Its Implication to Education," will feature presentations from Tomio Petrosky, a senior research scientist at the Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the University of Texas at Austin, and WIU educational psychology professor Yuki Hasebe.

Petrosky will introduce a theory of dissipative structures introduced by 1977 Nobel Prize winner Ilya Prigogine. Petrosky was one of Prigogine's closest colleagues and he will discuss examples that will shed new light on physical phenomena and the worlds of education and psychology.

Hasebe will connect the physics theory to cognitive psychology and its application to teaching.

Attendance is available in-person or over Zoom. Registration is requested by Tuesday, April 1, and can be found here.

Following the presentations, there will be a Q&A session and a social event with light snacks and drinks.

Petrosky will also be featured in the Morrow Distinguished Lecture, sponsored by the Department of Physics, at 4 p.m., Friday, April 4.

To learn more about the event, visit wiu.edu/coehs/events/soe_colloquium.php.

For more information on the WIU School of Education and the Department of Physics, visit wiu.edu/education and wiu.edu/physics.

Posted By: Aaron Viner (AP-Viner@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing