Aim of Course
This course is divided into 2 weeks, and applicants can apply for either week or both. A wide range of topics at the science/religion interface are addressed by internationally renowned speakers. The first week includes the rationality of science and religion, cosmology including the anthropic principle, ethical issues in the biosciences, and environmental concern. The second week includes historical and philosophical perspectives, and issues raised by biology, including the theory of evolution, and by modern neuroscience.
Speakers (listed in alphabetical order) and topics
See multimedia items for this course.
- Dr Denis Alexander : Is God a Virus?
- Revd Dr Michael Banner : Use of Animals in Experimentation
- Katherine Blundell : God and the Big Bang
- John Bryant : Genetic Engineering, Stem Cells
- David Cook : Ethics & the Imago Dei
- Calvin DeWitt : Science and Ethics of Caring for the Environment
- Revd Margot Hodson : Balancing Human and Environmental Concerns
- Revd Dr Rodney Holder : Ultimate Explanations in Cosmology
- Alan Padgett : Mutuality Model of Science and Religion and Divine Action
- Joe Perry DSc, FIBiol: GM crops
- Revd Dr Patrick Richmond : Is God Complex?
- Paul Shellard : The Anthropic Principle
- Roger Trigg : Rationailty of Science and Religion
- Bob White FRS : Why Care for the Environment?
- Revd Prof David Wilkinson : Extraterrestrial Life
Venue
The course will be held at St Edmunds College, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge, CB3 0BN
Course Schedule
| Friday July 20 | |
| 6.00 pm | Arrival |
| 6.15 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Drinks Reception – Getting to Know You |
|
Saturday July 21: Theme – ‘Rationality in Science and Religion’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Prof. Roger Trigg: The Rationality of Science |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. Roger Trigg: The Rationality of Religion |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Prof. Alan Padgett: A Mutuality Model for Science and Religion |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. Alan Padgett: The Role of God in Modern Science: Models of Divine Action |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Free time |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Panel Discussion with 3 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 10.00 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Sunday July 22: Theme – ‘God and the Question of Origins: the Big Bang and Cosmology’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Free time |
| 11.30 am | Prof. Katherine Blundell: God and the Big Bang |
| 12.30 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Prof. Paul Shellard: The Anthropic Principle |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Revd Prof David Wilkinson: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Revd Dr Rodney Holder: Ultimate Explanations in Cosmology |
| 6.30 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Panel Discussion with 3 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 10.00 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Monday July 23: Theme – ‘Scientists’ Problems with Religion’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Dr Denis Alexander: Is God a Virus? |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Revd Dr Patrick Richmond: Is God Complex? |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Prof. David Cook: Does Religion Block Scientific Advance? |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Cambridge History of Science Tour |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Panel Discussion with 2 Speakers – Questions and Discussion |
| 10.00 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Tuesday July 24: Theme – ‘Science, Theology and Human Nature’ |
|
| 9.00 am | Prof. John Bryant: Genetic Engineering in Health and Disease |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. John Bryant: Stem Cells in Research and in the Clinic |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Revd Dr Michael Banner: The Use of Animals in Experimentation: Some Issues |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. David Cook: What Ethical Considerations are Implied by the Imago Dei Doctrine? |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Free time |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Panel Discussion with 2 Speakers – Questions and Discussion |
| 10.00 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Wednesday July 25: Theme – ‘The Environment’ |
|
| 9.00 am | Prof. Bob White FRS: Why Care for the Environment? |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. Calvin DeWitt: The Science and Ethics of Caring for Creation |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Revd Margot Hodson: Balancing Human and Environmental Concerns |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. Joe Perry: GM Crops and GM food – Do We Need Them? |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Free time |
| 7.00 pm | Gala Dinner |
|
Thursday July 26 |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Depart |