About the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS) https://catholicscientists.org
HOW TO JOIN: https://catholicscientists.org/membership-overview/
Motto: “knowledge with devotion, research with wonder”
· Founded in June 2016. It has grown to over 2,500 members in 65 countries
· Mission:
o Intellectual and spiritual fellowship among Catholic scientists
o Public witness to the harmony of science and the Catholic faith;
o A forum for discussion of science/faith questions;
o An educational resource for pastors, lay people, educators, journalists, and the public.
· SCS Members are faithful Catholics
o who have advanced degrees in a natural science (as well as mathematics, computer science, and fields closely related to natural science)
o or are graduate students or undergraduate science majors.
o There are also Catholic theologians, philosophers, and historians of science associated with SCS.
· SCS is international. It has members in 65 countries. Though 75% are still in the US and Canada, SCS held its first conferences in Europe in 2022-3.
· Many SCS members are leaders in their fields. Among its founding members are Prof. Jonathan Lunine, a Caltech astrophysicist and member of the National Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Karin Öberg, a Harvard researcher on exoplanets and astrochemistry (both converts to the faith). Juan Maldacena of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, who wrote the most highly cited research paper in the history of theoretical particle physics, is an SCS member and received its 2018 St. Albert Award.
· SCS is inspired by the words of Pope St. John Paul II:
“Those members of the Church who are … active scientists, or in some special cases both scientists and theologians, could serve as a key resource. They can also provide a much-needed ministry to others [striving] to integrate the worlds of science and religion in their own intellectual and spiritual lives.”
· SCS is recognized by the Church and listed in the Official Catholic Directory. Its “Episcopal Moderator” (bishop advisor) is Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend. SCS is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
SCS website has educational material about science and faith https://catholicscientists.org/ ( “The Society’s website is a treasure trove of fascinating materials.” --- George Weigel)
· “Common Questions about Science and Faith”: These are 16 frequently asked questions about the compatibility of science and the Catholic faith (more to come), with readable, and scientifically & theologically solid answers, plus “Resources for further study.” These are written to be accessible to a wide audience.
· Biographies of 99 Important Catholic Scientists of the Past: A carefully curated, accurate set of biographies of scientists who were believing and practicing Catholics and who were significant figures in the history of science. Each bio (averaging 400 words) explains the scientific importance of the person and gives some information about his or her faith life.
· Monthly Articles: These are aimed at a wide audience and are about various aspects of the relationship of science and the Catholic faith. There are 8 articles per year put up and archived on the website.
· Video Archive: This includes both videos of talks given at our annual conferences and other SCS events and recommended videos from elsewhere. They are accessible to a wide audience.
· YouTube channel and other social media presence: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit. SCS will soon be starting a science and Catholicism podcast.
Activities of SCS:
· The SCS Annual Conferences. There are talks on science/faith topics by SCS members, as well as by Catholic theologians, philosophers, and historians. Distinguished non-Catholic scientists have also spoken. A St. Albert Award is presented to a Catholic scientist at each conference.
· SCS has so far 30 College Chapters that sponsor lectures and other activities on campuses.
· SCS has started Regional Chapters in New Mexico, Spain and Poland. These chapters sponsor Regional Conferences.
· SCS is starting a Speakers Program. This will make available good speakers on science-faith topics (including scientists, theologians and philosophers) to audiences of various types.
· SCS started in 2016 the tradition of “Gold Masses” for Catholics in science (researchers, educators, students) in analogy with Red Masses for lawyers.
· SCS has special one-day events for high school students, teachers and parents called “St. Albert Initiatives on Science and the Catholic Faith,” which draw hundreds per year (475 in 2025).