Institute for Religion & Science

John Braverman, SJ, PhD Associate Professor of Biology, St. Joseph University 7 pm, January 25 (February 1, in case of snow) Where did we come from? This lecture offers an informed updating using current scientific conclusions from population genetics. The origin of modern humans, their migrations, and interbreeding with other species is presented in dialog with Catholic theology. For event flyer, click here

John Haught, PhD Distinguished Research Professor, Georgetown University 1:30 - 4:00 PM, October 8 Evolutionary biology contributes much to our present understanding of life, and it promises also to deepen our understanding of human intelligence, ethics and even religion. For some evolutionists, however, Darwin’s science is so impressive that it now supplants theology by providing what appears to be the ultimate explanation of all manifestations of life including human intelligence. By using the Jesuit philosopher Bernard Lonergan's theory of understanding…

Bindu Methikalam, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology, Chestnut Hill College 7 pm, November 2 Dreams are a fascinating way to gain new or deeper understanding of one’s identity.  At the same time, there are often misconceptions about dreams and exploring dreams can be confusing.  This interactive lecture will provide an overview of present research on dreams as well as some of the cultural factors associated with dream work.  Dr. Methikalam is Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology program and Assistant…

Marisa Cristina March, PhD is a cosmologist at the University of Pennsylvania where she carries out research in the field of dark energy science, a field that seeks to understand the acceleration of the Universe. Dr. March has worked on galaxy lensing for the future Euclid space mission, and she now works on supernova cosmology for the ground based Dark Energy Survey. Dr. March studied theoretical physics at Imperial College London, where she also carried out her doctoral research on…

Nelson Rivera is Associate Professor of Theology at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa. He has a PhD in Religion from Temple University, and is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Dr. Rivera’s main area of teaching and research is Doctrinal Theology, with pronounced interest on the evolution of Christian doctrine, the use of theological language, and how these disciplines inform the practice of ministry. His published work covers confessional statements of faith, as well as…

Kathleen Duffy, SSJ is Professor of Physics at Chestnut Hill College, where she directs the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and the Institute for Religion and Science. She is editor of Teilhard Studies and serves on the Advisory Boards of the American Teilhard Association and Cosmos and Creation. Her present research deals with the way Teilhard de Chardin’s religious writings connect with modern science. She has published several book chapters and articles on these topics, an edited volume of essays entitled Rediscovering…

Camille Carlisle, a Catholic science journalist and staff editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, graduated from Villanova University with a BS in Astronomy and Astrophysics and from MIT with an MS in Science Writing. Previously, Camille worked at Science News magazine in Washington, DC as the publication’s fact checker. Her articles have appeared in Sky & Telescope, Science News, Technology Review, and MIT’s webzine Scope. As Staff Editor at Sky & Telescope, Camille handles commissions and edits freelance articles about…