06 Sep Professors John Berkman & Gerard Ryan recipients of: Science for Seminaries Seed Grant Initiative of the AAAS
Professors John Berkman and Gerard Ryan recipients of:
Science for Seminaries Seed Grant Initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
On behalf of Regis College, Professors John Berkman and Gerard Ryan have been selected to participate in the Science for Seminaries Seed Grant Initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program, in partnership with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
The project helps a diverse group of seminaries integrate science into their curricula and provides support and resources to seminary professors to encourage informed dialogue and a positive understanding of science among future religious leaders. Integrating science into seminary education will not only benefit professors and students, but ultimately it will enrich those in the pews who are interested in the discoveries and implications of science. Through the previous eight years of the project, 54 seminaries have received substantial grants from AAAS DoSER, including 12 seed grants in Summer of 2021.
- Professor Berkman describes his project: “My project shall expand the conversation on intellect and affectivity, whereby emphasis shall be placed on the inter-relationships between humans and non-linguistic animals. The purpose here is to prioritize the interrelational dimension of human meaning and flourishing within an expansive and interdependent community of linguistic and non-linguistic animals. The outcome of these combined modules prioritizes an integral ecology of life necessary for health and wellbeing of all life.
- Professor Ryan explains his project: “My project prioritizes the emerging science of loneliness as critical to accompanying persons who suffer loneliness. In specifically contextualizing the science of loneliness within our students’ broader intellectual and affective formation, Regis College is updating and preparing its formation program to meet the pastoral needs of church communities across North America. The outcome of such interdisciplinary research and teaching facilitates within the college new conversations in thinking through a more integrated theological approach to the COVID 19 pandemic and loneliness in ways that helps create and sustain the best pastoral care for accompaniment.”
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving millions of individuals. The nonprofit is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. Building upon its mission, AAAS established the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. For the latest information and news about AAAS DoSER and the Science for Seminaries Seed Grant initiative, visit AAAS.org/DoSER and ScienceforSeminaries.org.