Science and the Spiritual Quest Conference to Feature
World-Renowned Scientists
BOSTON, July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- What would happen if two of humankind's
most powerful cultural forces -- science and religion -- were to meet at one
of the world's most respected research universities? Sixteen distinguished
scientists and technology leaders will pose this and other provocative
questions at a public event entitled the "The Harvard Conference on Science
and the Spiritual Quest," to be held October 21-23, 2001 at Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the ongoing quest for knowledge, must science
and religion be on a collision course? Are they on divergent courses,
destined for mutual isolation? Or might they converge to offer mutually
constructive views of the world and humankind? Offered by the Science and the
Spiritual Quest Program (SSQ) of the Center for Theology and the Natural
Sciences, the Harvard Conference is co-sponsored by the Dialogue on Science,
Ethics, and Religion of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University.
The Harvard Conference on Science and the Spiritual Quest will feature
some of the world's leading scientists and technology experts, including:
* primatologist Jane Goodall of the Jane Goodall Institute
* physicist and Nobel Laureate William Phillips of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology
* biochemist and Templeton Prizewinner Arthur Peacocke of Oxford
University
* theoretical physicist and Templeton Prizewinner Paul Davies of the
Imperial College of London and University of Adelaide
* neuroscientist William Newsome of Stanford University
* human evolutionary biologist Terrence Deacon of Boston University
* robotics expert Manuela Veloso of Carnegie Mellon University
"This is an extraordinary opportunity," said Dr. Philip Clayton, principal
investigator for Science and the Spiritual Quest, "to bring this vital
dialogue into the public arena at a time when we face compelling questions of
social ethics, public policy, and environmental concern in almost every area
of scientific progress. These scientists, at the cutting edge of research in
their fields, are inviting us to join with them as they grapple with hard
questions of meaning, purpose, and responsibility."
Drawing on their expertise in such fields as cosmology, quantum mechanics,
genetics, evolutionary theory, neurobiology, cognitive science, computer
science, and robotics, the Harvard speakers will reflect on such questions as:
* Can science enlighten the human spiritual quest, and can religious
traditions inform scientific questions?
* As we look to science and technology for solutions to pressing problems,
can we expect any guidance or resources from the world's spiritual
traditions?
* What challenges and opportunities do the revolutions in information
technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience, and genomics offer to
humanity?
The Harvard Conference on Science and the Spiritual Quest will be held in
Harvard's landmark Memorial Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The media and
the public are highly encouraged to attend the public conference. For
conference information and registration, visit http://www.ssq.net or call
415-682-2455.
Science and the Spiritual Quest II (SSQ II) is a four-year international
program conducted by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS)
in Berkeley, California. SSQ's mission is to promote open dialogue among
leading scientists on the connections between their scientific pursuits and
their religious or spiritual practices, and to offer the results of this
dialogue to the public through conferences, publications, and multimedia.
Over the next two years, SSQ will offer major public events at Harvard and in
Paris, Israel, Japan, and India. For more information on SSQ, visit
http://www.ssq.net.
SOURCE Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.ssq.net
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/155415.html
CONTACT:
media, Silas Deane, 615-301-8313, or
silas@logicmediagroup.com, or Melissa Dearman, 615-301-8386, both
of PRSource.com for Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences
|
