Live Q&A

On October 29^th, experts in the field of science and religion will be available to answer your questions relating to presentations given at this conference. During the event, an online form on this website will give you the chance to submit your questions about contributions to the conference. Questions can be submitted from Thursday, Oct. 25^th until Sunday, October 28^th. Together with the answers they will be published on this website. Be sure to check back during the conference.

• 

  Prof. Dr. Denis Alexander

  Molecular biologist and Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St. Edmund's College, Cambridge (UK).
• 

  Prof. Dr. Wentzel van Huyssteen

  Professor of Theology and Science, Princeton Theological Seminary.
• 

  Prof. Dr. John Polkinghorne

  KBE, FRS, Professor emeritus of mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge and Anglican Priest.
• 

  Prof. Dr. Jan Stievermann

  Professor of American Church History and American Studies, Heidelberg University
• 

  Prof. Dr. Klaus Tanner

  Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, University of Heidelberg
• 

  Prof. Dr. Michael Welker

  Professor of Systematic Theology and Dogmatics, Director of the Research Center for International and Interdisciplinary Theology (FIIT), Heidelberg

Events

Note: All times on Oct 25^th to 27^th are UTC+1 (GMT+1).

Thursday, Oct. 25th, 4 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
Great Hall of Heidelberg University
Open to the public – please send us an E-Mail if you are planning to attend: sekretariat.welker@wts.uni-heidelberg.de
The ceremony will be broadcast on this website via livestream
Program Opening Ceremony (PDF)

Friday, Oct. 26th, 8:30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27th, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Academic panels on disciplines and initiatives in the area of science and religion
Participation by invitation only
Livestream available at this website
Program Academic Panels (PDF)

Monday, Oct. 29th
Live Q&A Session
On October 29th, experts in the field of science and religion will be available to answer your questions relating to presentations given at this conference. During the event, this website will give you the chance to submit your questions until Sunday, Oct. 28th via an online form. Together with the answers they will be published online. Be sure to check back during the conference.

Keynote Speakers

• 

  Prof. Dr. Hans Joas

  Dr. Hans Joas is a Permanent Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies and Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. He has held many prestigious fellowships at European and US research institutions and served as vice-president of the International Sociological Association. Dr. Joas is an ordinary member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and a winner of the Luhmann Award. He has also taught theology and written about a wide range of issues such as religion, secularization, violence, democracy, and human rights.
• 

  Prof Dr. Martin Nowak

  Dr. Martin A. Nowak is Professor of Biology and of Mathematics at Harvard University and Director of Harvard’s Program for Evolutionary Dynamics. He works on the mathematical description of evolutionary processes including the evolution of cooperation and human language, the dynamics of virus infections and human cancer. Dr. Nowak has held numerous prestigious fellowships. Prior to his current position, he was professor at Oxford and researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He is the recipient of many prestigious academic prizes.
• 

  Prof. Dr. John Polkinghorne

  Dr. John C. Polkinghorne, KBE, FRS, is an internationally renowned physicist and theologian. He is the author of numerous books on the relationship between science and theology as well as on quantum physics and mathematics. His most recent publications include Science and Religion in the Quest of Truth and Meaning in Mathematics (2011). A Professor of mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge and an ordained priest, he served as founding president of the International Society for Science and Religion and is recipient of the Templeton Award.

Essay Contest

The Winners of the Essay Contest "Science and Religion"

1. Xiaobai Chu (East China Normal University, China):
“Science vs. Religion: A Brief Chinese History of Science and its Impacts on the Dialogue with Religion”

2. Andrea Hollingsworth (Loyola University Chicago, USA):
“Neurocognitive Readings of Ancient Religious Texts: Methodological Liabilities and Possibilities”

3. Zachary Newman (Yale University, USA):
“Are the Issues About Realism that Arise in Theology Parallel to those that Arise in Science?”

4. Kim Solin (Uppsala University, Sweden):
“Mathematics and Religion: On a Remark by Simone Weil”

5. Aku Olavi Visala (University of Oxford, UK):
“Do Evolutionary Origins Debunk Belief? - Morality and Religion Reconsidered”