Online threats cancel lecture on ‘How the Universe Ends’ at Perimeter Institute
Posted Nov 7, 2024 07:09:12 AM.
Last Updated Nov 7, 2024 09:00:12 AM.
A lecture called “How the Universe Ends,” set to be held at Perimeter Institute’s Waterloo campus, had to be cancelled Wednesday, due to what Waterloo Regional Police are calling “online threats.”
The nature of those threats cannot be released by police – though the service has confirmed they were “sent online to a female” and were “threatening in nature.”
Perimeter Institute’s Hawking chair, Dr. Katie Mack was set to hold the sold-out lecture on Wednesday.
Her lecture was described to focus on, “The Big Bang began our Universe 13.8 billion years ago. What’s its fate? Discover modern astrophysics’ take on cosmic destruction.”
No new date for the talk has been posted at this time.
In a statement to 570 NewsRadio, the Perimeter Institute reiterated its commitment to “fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all staff, researchers and visitors,” noting that they “take any safety concerns seriously and uphold the highest standards of safety” in their activities.
“We will continue to provide updates as appropriate, and we remain in cooperation with authorities as they actively investigate the matter.” reads that statement.
“As a research institute focused on theoretical physics, our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding through open inquiry and collaboration. We believe that diverse perspectives and unconstrained exploration are essential to scientific progress and remain focused on the pursuit of scientific truth.”
