Eric Hedin

Fellow, Center for Science and Culture

Eric Hedin earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Washington and conducted post-doctoral research at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden in experimental plasma physics. He has taught physics and astronomy at Taylor University and Ball State University (BSU) in Indiana, and at Biola University in Southern California. He served as professor of physics at Biola University in California, and chaired the department of chemistry, physics, and engineering at Biola from 2019-2021. Since the fall of 2021, Dr. Hedin has taught physics part-time with Indiana Wesleyan University and speaks regularly at universities around the country with God’s Not Dead Events, led by Dr. Rice Broocks. Dr. Hedin is also an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at Ball State University in Indiana.

At Ball State, Dr. Hedin’s research interests focused on computational nano-electronics and higher-dimensional physics.  Dr. Hedin developed and taught the Boundaries of Science course for six years in the Honors College at Ball State University. In 2013, his course came under attack by a national atheist organization for allowing student discussions in class to consider evidence that nature is not all there is and that our lives have eternal meaning and value within a universe crafted with biocentric design. Based on Dr. Hedin’s experience with this course, he wrote a book published by Discovery Institute, Canceled Science: What Some Atheists Don’t Want You to See, sharing his experience at BSU and highlighting scientific evidence that points to design.

Archives

Science Suggests Matter and Meaning Are Both Real

What is the story of everything? Is there a scientific and philosophical basis for meaning? Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues exploring those questions with physicist and author Dr. Eric Hedin. In Part 2, the conversation turns to the scientific and philosophical basis for meaning in the universe. Dr. Hedin argues that materialism "fails to describe the world we experience." He explores the problem with reducing life and the universe to their lowest terms. Sure, we boil down to matter in motion at the microscopic level, but we also live a life full of meaning at the macroscopic level. To acknowledge one and not the other, or to say that the one causes an illusion of the other, doesn't match up with what science is telling us, says Hedin.

A Designed Universe Makes Meaning Real, Not Illusory

Why are we here? Does life, or the universe, mean anything? And if it does, what? Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid explores those questions and more with physicist and author Dr. Eric Hedin. Using the recent documentary film The Story of Everything as a springboard for discussion, Hedin shows that cumulative scientific evidence is pointing to a purposeful universe, not a cosmic accident. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 next!