TU provost’s lecture to revisit two cultures

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Dr. Roger Blais, provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Tulsa, will lecture on “The Two Cultures Revisited: Science and Humanities in the Core,” on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. in the browsing room of the Edmon Low Library at Oklahoma State University.  The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the OSU Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, which Blais himself helped make possible on campus. 

“Phi Beta Kappa is recognized as the pre-eminent academic honor society in the U.S., and OSU has enhanced its reputation by becoming one of the roughly 10 percent of colleges and universities nationwide who have chapters,” said Dr. Perry Gethner, department head of foreign languages and literatures at OSU, and president of the local chapter.  “While working toward our chapter’s acceptance, Roger served as a guide and mentor during the application process, and his appearance at OSU reflects the spirit of scholarship and leadership that are hallmarks of Phi Beta Kappa’s history and aspirations. We look forward to his presentation and invite the OSU community and area residents to attend.”

As provost and vice president of academic affairs, Blais is the chief academic officer at TU, reporting directly to the president and overseeing the various colleges and learning centers on campus. He earned his doctorate in experimental physics at the University of Oklahoma in 1971. His areas of research include experimental plasmas (gaseous electronics), remote sensing and modeling of atmospheric pollution, multiphase flow instrumentation, and artificial lift technology.

Currently in the second year since receiving its charter, the Gamma of Oklahoma chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at OSU is working actively to promote appreciation of the liberal arts disciplines and to deliver one of the highest forms of recognition for top students majoring in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.