Justice runs as a central theme throughout religion. We cannot deny, ignore, or escape this. Science, by contrast, is sometimes portrayed as standing apart: the numbers and the facts simply are what they are. If we scratch below the surface, however, we see that science is also intertwined with questions of justice; often able to foster justice, too often playing a material role in injustice.
In our interconnected world, the interplay of science and religion with justice cuts across disciplines. It is of relevance not just to scientists and theologians, but impinges on topics from politics to philosophy, and technology to teaching. We may hope historical problems – like the scientific rankings of human races – are behind us. But modern science is still marked by issues such as control, power, value, and identity; how we treat the poor, the disadvantaged, the other; how we understand ourselves and our standing in the world. This one-week course will cover a wide range of Science & Religion topics, delving into the rich interconnections of how both science and religion are necessarily involved in the lived story of justice: past, present, and future.
Speakers and Topics include:
Dr Esyin Chew – Justice and Humanoid Robotics: In Love and War?
Dr Emilie Cunningham – The Role of Power in Childbirth and Obstetric Medicine
Childbirth has evolved on a trajectory of medicalization largely due to the increased adoption of technology and the erosion of social support, both under the guise of safety, producing mixed results in the reduction of mortality and morbidity. The exercise of power within the birth environment has been a dynamic shift from relational stakeholders to those with clinical expertise in the hierarchy of medicine. This has contributed to a profound distancing of society from the childbirth event, increasing fear and diminishing patient agency in decision-making. This session will introduce the continuum of power exercised in the birth environment, from its historical relationship with religion to the contemporary issue of obstetric violence.
Dr Edward David – Modelling Justice: How We Think about Justice
Wh
at is justice, and how have people across history and cultures tried to define it? This talk explores justice as a moral virtue—concerned not only with fairness, but also with human flourishing, truth, and care for the natural world. Drawing on moral traditions from both East and West, this talk will introduce a simple model for understanding different approaches to justice. By mapping these approaches across three dimensions (individual vs communal, substantive vs procedural, experience vs reason), we’ll see how religion, philosophy, and even science shape the way we think about what justice is—and what it requires.
Prof. Jennifer George – Technology and Disability Inclusion in Education
Disability, as defined by the United Nations, encompasses long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments that interact with societal and physical barriers, hindering equal participation in society. In universities, up to 28% of students disclose disabilities, and 17% of the population will acquire a disability during their working lives.
Various technologies, supported by initiatives like reasonable adjustments, library programs, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance in the UK, aid learners with disabilities. The Access to Work Scheme further supports educators with disabilities in maintaining employment. The advent of Artificial Intelligence has introduced significant changes, raising concerns about data privacy, advantage, academic integrity and ethics.
This session will delve into the technologies used in education, analysing their dual role in hindering and enhancing the learning experience. It will also address their impact on human flourishing, relationships, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use.
Prof. Nidhal Guessoum – Islamic Insights on How Questions of Justice Play Out in the Practice of the Physical Sciences
Prof. Mel Luna – Justice and Disasters
The world is experiencing disasters that are increasingly devastating, and which destroy investment and development which has been nurtured for years. These disasters, caused by natural hazards and human-induced actions, affect all sectors of society. However, it is the poorest and most vulnerable communities that suffer most and have the least chance to recover. The injustice of this inequity is compounded by the fact that the nations suffering most from the impact of climate change are generally those who contributed least to the causes of global warming.
Interventions intended to mitigate such problems often do not help. Development aggression takes place when policies and programs intended to induce development and alleviate suffering ultimately lead to disasters which benefit the few and disadvantage the many. Addressing such injustice and building resilience is an agenda for all nations, communities, and people. The call is more actions than words, not tomorrow but now!
Dr Hilary Marlow – The Bible and Ecojustice: The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor
Dr Rosa Martínez-Cuadros – Islam, Science, and Gender: Considering sexual and reproductive rights
Prof. Bill Newsome – Justice and Neuroscience
Dr Mark Pickering – Justice and Healthcare in Prisons
Prof. Deepa Senapathi – Justice and Ecology
Environmental justice provides a vital framework for examining how environmental benefits and harms are distributed across different communities, regions, and species – particularly in the face of accelerating global environmental change. This talk explores the structural and policy-driven dimensions of environmental justice, with a focus on the intersection of biodiversity conservation, food security and accelerating climate change. Drawing on research into the ecological and social consequences of attempting to achieve food security, I consider how policy frameworks aimed at sustainability vary across different contexts. Through case studies from both the Global North and South, this talk investigates whether and how just, win-win outcomes might be achieved for both nature and people. It raises critical questions about the viability of such solutions and highlights the importance of participatory governance, plural knowledge systems, and justice-oriented approaches to conservation and sustainability transitions.
Prof. John Wyatt – Justice and AI
Ticket types and Costs:
In-Person Attendance:
Includes participation in the full course program plus all lunches, dinners and refreshments from the evening of Sunday 29th June until lunchtime on Friday 4th July at the course venue. An immersive experience in Cambridge with opportunity to meet other participants, speakers and Faraday Institute staff informally during meals and breaks.
Online Attendance:
Includes participation in the full course program, including live Q&A sessions and Meet the Speaker events, through Zoom webinars and meetings, as well as access to talk recordings and supplementary online materials.
Costs:
£1,500 Full price with accommodation (sign up before 31st May 2025)
£1,100 Full price without accommodation (sign up before 31st May 2025)
£800 Student with accommodation (open to students, sign up before 31st May 2025)
£450 Student without accommodation (open to students, sign up before 31st May 2025)
£185 Full price, online
£95 Student price, online
Notes:
An accommodation booking link will be sent to in-person ticket holders. For in person attendance a £450 deposit is required to reserve a place, with any remaining balance due by Thursday 15th May. In the case of cancellation, the maximum refund will be the difference between in-person and online attendance, and such refunds are not guaranteed. No tickets for pro rata attendance are available. Attendees remain fully responsible for their own travel, accommodation, insurance and incidental costs. We are unable to provide letters for visa purposes. For student tickets, evidence of full-time student status (undergraduate or postgraduate) will be required. Student tickets are highly subsidised and the number made available will depend on level of designated donation support received. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
A draft programme can be found here.
Sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the Virtual Learning Environment. These recordings will allow you to catch content you miss (e.g., because of time difference or an internet connection issue), and will remain available following the end of the Summer Course.
Help Sponsor a Student
If you are able, please consider donating to support a student to attend via our ‘Support Us’ page.
Scholarships & Bursaries
A limited number of partial scholarships and bursaries will be available to allow in person or online attendance at a reduced cost. Please visit the scholarships page to find out more.
We look forward to welcoming you in Cambridge!
How to register:
To register for a place on The Faraday Summer Course 2025, choose your ticket type below and submit the registration form online.
Note: Ticket prices below do not include accommodation. An accommodation booking link (£400 for regular tickets, £350 for students) will be sent to all in-person ticket holders. Accommodation is not guaranteed until payment is received (no later than 15th May).
If you are having any technical issues in making payments please email: events@faraday.cam.ac.uk
