5:30pm Friday 16th – 4pm Sunday 18th September 2022
Do you enjoy thinking about the interactions of science and religious faith?
Would you like to spend a weekend developing your skills in communicating about
these ideas alongside other like-minded individuals?
This course could be for you!
This course is hosted by The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion (Youth and Schools Programme and Church Engagement Director), with the God and the Big Bang project. Together we form a team of science-faith communication experts who are committed to effective, engaging communication about the positive interactions between mainstream science and wholehearted faith.
We believe that the world needs clear, engaging, humble, and positive communication about science, faith and their interactions – and the opportunities are many. Preaching, teaching, hands-on activity sessions, science demonstrations, radio or podcast interviews, blogs, books, articles… each of these carries its own opportunities and its own challenges. The aim of this course is to equip and inspire participants to engage meaningfully with a wide variety of audiences – with skill, confidence and fun!
What will the training include?
From explosions to expert feedback, this interactive weekend will include:
· Opportunities for you to practice and develop your presentation, interview, writing, and practical demonstration skills
· Exploration of current big questions within science and theology
· Discussion of lessons learned by those working in science-faith outreach and dissemination
· Small group feedback sessions with expert science-faith communicators
In advance, all course participants will be asked to prepare a short, written piece and a 10-minute presentation. During the course, you’ll also take part in a practical science demonstration, a ‘Q&A’ panel and a practice radio/podcast interview. More details and helpful guidelines will be sent out to those chosen to participate, but if you have any questions at this stage, please feel free to get in touch!
What are we looking for in a participant?
We want to gather participants who are interested in learning more about the big science-faith questions and how to communicate positively about them. We’re generally looking for those who have studied, or are studying, at undergraduate level or above in science, theology, or a relevant area. But if that’s not your background and you think this course might be for you, please feel free to apply and outline your relevant experience in this area. Most of all, we’re looking for those who are enthusiastic about people, communication, and are ready to throw themselves in and give things a go during the weekend!
Participants from previous courses have found this training to positively influence their research, writing, teaching, youth work, and other activities. Many have also been equipped and inspired to organise, present, and run science-faith sessions in their own varied contexts, and some have been invited to take part in church and school events run by The Faraday Institute and God and the Big Bang.
What will it cost?
Nothing!
We view this course as an investment, equipping the science-faith communicators of today. So, we cover all accommodation, food and course costs. We ask only that you cover the costs of your travel and honour our financial commitment by only booking a place on the course if you fully intend to attend. Should you need to cancel your place, please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can offer your place to another delegate.
What impact might covid have?
The Faraday Institute and the workshop venue, The Møller Institute, are fully committed to adhering to government guidance with care and caution. We want all participants to feel safe and comfortable in preparing for and attending the course. There are currently no strict requirements, but we will encourage participants to observe reasonable measures to keep everyone as safe as possible. We’ll send out more details closer to the time.
The workshop will go ahead with necessary restrictions, unless changes to rules prohibit an in-person event, in which case the course will be postponed until the next available opportunity.
Please apply by Friday 15th July at the latest.
To apply, fill in the registration form (not guarantee of a place).
If you have any questions, please feel free to email: admin@faraday.cam.ac.uk
