Aim of Course
In this one week course a wide range of topics at the science/religion interface will be addressed by internationally renowned speakers. The topics to be covered include historical and philosophical perspectives; the relationships between physics, evolutionary biology and neuroscience with religion; and some of the ethical issues raised by science.
Speakers (listed in alphabetical order) and topics
See multimedia items for this course .
- John Hedley Brooke : Science vs Religion? The Roots of the Conflict Thesis
- John Bryant : Creation or Evolution?
- Dr Allan Chapman : The Historical Roots of Scientific Reductionism
- Peter Clarke (deceased) : The Brain as a Neuronal Machine
- Elaine Howard Ecklund : The Religious and Ethical Beliefs of Scientists
- Ian Hutchinson : Monolopising Knowledge: A Refutation of Scientism
- Gareth Jones : Human Embryology and Bioethics
- Dr David Lahti : The Genetics of Human Behaviour
- Edward Larson : Darwinism, Eugenics and Religion
- Alister McGrath : Science, Religion and the New Atheism
- Dr Jonathan Moo : Environmental Apocalypse and Christian Hope
- Bill Newsome : Theology and the Neurosciences
- Revd Dr John Polkinghorne KBE FRS: Theology and Physics
- Paul Shellard : The Anthropic Principle
- Lionel Tarassenko CBE FREng FIET: Artificial Intelligence: from chess-playing machines to artificial consciousness?
- Dr Cara Wall-Scheffler : How did Humans Evolve?
- John Walton : Interpreting the creation narratives in Genesis 1-3
- Dr Jennifer Wiseman : Habitable Exoplanets: the Implications for Human Significance
- John Wyatt : What does it Mean to be a Person?
- Peter van Inwagen : A Philosophical Perspective on Free Will
Venue
The course will be held at St Edmund’s College, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge, CB3 0BN
Course Schedule
| Sunday July 8 | |
| 6.00 pm | Arrival |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.30 pm | Drinks Reception – Getting to Know You |
|
Monday July 9: Theme – ‘Physics and Faith’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Revd Dr John Polkinghorne: Theology and Physics |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. Paul Shellard: The Anthropic Principle |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Prof. Ian Hutchinson: Monopolising Knowledge: A Refutation of Scientism |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. John Walton: Interpreting the creation narratives in Genesis 1-3 |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Free time |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.15 pm | Panel Discussion with 4 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 9.15 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Tuesday July 10: Theme – ‘Biology and Evolution’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Dr David Lahti: The Genetics of Human Behaviour |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Dr Cara Wall-Scheffler: How did Humans Evolve? |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Cambridge History of Science Tour |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. John Bryant: Creation or Evolution? |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Dr Jennifer Wiseman: Habitable Exoplanets: the Implications for Human Significance |
| 6.30 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.15 pm | Panel Discussion with 4 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 9.15 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Wednesday July 11: Theme – ‘The Brain’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Prof. Bill Newsome: Theology and the Neurosciences |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. Peter Clarke (deceased): The Brain as a Neuronal Machine |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Cambridge History of Science Tour |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. Lionel Tarassenko: Artificial Intelligence: from chess-playing machines to artificial consciousness? |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Prof. Peter van Inwagen: A Philosophical Perspective on Free Will |
| 6.30 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.15 pm | Panel Discussion with 4 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 9.15 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Thursday July 12: Theme – ‘Ethical Challenges in Contemporary Science’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Prof. Gareth Jones: Human Embryology and Bioethics |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. John Wyatt: What does it Mean to be a Person? Matters of Life and Death |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Dr Jonathan Moo: Environmental Apocalypse and Christian Hope |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Prof. Elaine Howard Ecklund: The Religious and Ethical Beliefs of Scientists |
| 6.30 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 7.00 pm | Dinner |
| 8.15 pm | Panel Discussion with 4 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 9.15 pm | Bar and more Discussion |
|
Friday July 13: Theme – ‘Historical and Philosophical Interactions between Science and Religion’ |
|
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |
| 9.00 am | Prof. John Hedley Brooke: Science vs Religion? The Roots of the Conflict Thesis |
| 10.00 am | Questions and Discussion |
| 10.30 am | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 am | Prof. Edward Larson: Darwinism, Eugenics and Religion |
| 12.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 pm | Dr Allan Chapman: The Historical Roots of Scientific Reductionism |
| 3.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 3.30 pm | Tea Break |
| 4.00 pm | Prof. Alister McGrath: Science, Religion and the New Atheism |
| 5.00 pm | Questions and Discussion |
| 5.30 pm | Panel Discussion with 4 Speakers Questions and Discussion |
| 7.00 pm | Gala Dinner |
| Saturday July 14 | |
| 8.00 am | Breakfast |