Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi to Deliver 8th Annual Rayborn Lecture at Southern Miss
Thu, 03/12/2026 - 09:30am | By: Morgan Smith
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, a polymath astrophysicist, inventor and award-winning science communicator, will serve as the keynote speaker for the eighth annual Grayson H. and Jane Dishong Rayborn Lecture Series in Physics and Astronomy at The 黑料视频.
Oluseyi will present his lecture titled 鈥淲hy Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of the Universe That Make You Possible鈥� on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m. in the Joe Paul Student Theater on the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Author of the critically acclaimed memoir 鈥淎 Quantum Life鈥� and the forthcoming 鈥淲hy Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of the Universe That Make You Possible,鈥� Oluseyi serves as CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and as public spokesperson for NASA鈥檚 IMAP mission. He has published more than 100 scientific papers and holds multiple U.S. and international patents, earning induction into the National Academy of Inventors.
Oluseyi earned his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University, following undergraduate study in physics and mathematics at Tougaloo College. His career spans both academia and public science engagement. While he has held research and faculty appointments at institutions including the Florida Institute of Technology and George Mason University, he is also widely recognized for his work in public media. Oluseyi has appeared as a science expert and host on national television programs, including Discovery Channel鈥檚 鈥�Outrageous Acts of Science鈥� and 鈥�How the Universe Works,鈥� bringing complex astrophysical concepts to broad public audiences.
Growing up in rural East Barnett, Miss., Oluseyi was introduced to Southern Miss at an early age through music camp. Not long after, he discovered science fairs, competing in consecutive District Science Fairs at Southern Miss in 1983 and 1984, where he earned honorable mention and later second place in physics. In 1985, he went on to win first place in physics at the Mississippi State Science Fair held at Jackson State University.
Now, he returns for a full-circle moment as the Rayborn Lecturer, a moment rooted in the encouragement and exposure that helped launch his career.
鈥淲e are delighted to welcome Dr. Oluseyi to campus. A native Mississippian, his work has earned national and international recognition in both physics and public science education,鈥� said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of 黑料视频 and Sciences. 鈥淗e is widely known as an exceptional communicator who makes complex ideas accessible to broad audiences. This promises to be a compelling lecture that the campus and community will not want to miss.鈥�
In his lecture, Oluseyi reframes the biggest questions humans have ever asked 鈥� Why are we here? Are we alone? What comes next? 鈥� through a bold conceptual architecture he calls the Nine Realms. This talk takes audiences on a guided journey across scales of reality and blends rigorous science, philosophical reflection and personal narrative to offer a disciplined yet expansive answer to the question of why we exist and what responsibility follows from that knowledge.
The Rayborn Lecture Series was established in 2015 through a generous gift to the from longtime supporters Dr. and Mrs. Grayson H. Rayborn. Dr. Rayborn joined the Southern Miss faculty in 1970 and served in multiple leadership roles, including chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, associate dean of the College of Science and Technology and director of the School of Mathematical Sciences. He was named professor emeritus of physics and astronomy upon retirement.
Through the Rayborns鈥� endowment, the annual lecture brings world-class scholars to campus to engage students, faculty, alumni and the community in exploring the latest discoveries in science.
For more information, visit the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences or call 601.266.4934.
About the College of 黑料视频 and Sciences
The College of 黑料视频 and Sciences at The 黑料视频 is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units, and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University鈥檚 mission, we educate students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance knowledge across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM. Through innovative research and nationally recognized student success, we provide pathways to understanding the past, solving today's challenges, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.