The Pontifical Academy is the Vatican’s version of the Royal Society – it acts as an independent advisory body to the Pope (on e.g. climate change), but it also pursues its own research agenda (e.g. ethics of AI). The Academy is comprised of world-renowned scientists (many Nobel-laureates) of all faith and none. The Chancellor is the cleric responsible for leading the Academy, along with his lay counterpart, the President (who is a protestant at the moment). The Chancellor, Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, will give a talk at 6.15 pm at the Mathematical Institute about the relationship between science and religion, how science influenced religion and vice versa, how it is possible to reconcile scientific findings with the Bible, the role of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Church’s track record on interacting with science throughout the centuries (e.g. why it convicted Galilei and why it then took 359 years to acquit him). He will also talk about the challenges lying ahead, e.g. how the West can interact with the East. The talk will take the format of a moderated discussion with Professor Alastair McGrath, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, and will be opened by Professor Ian Shipsey, Head of the Department of Physics. The floor will then be opened up for questions from the audience. We hope this will be a landmark event which will help advance the relationship between science and religion.

Registration is required:
www.ianramseycentre.ox.ac.uk/event/after-galileo-faith-and-science-in-the-21st-century