WHAT IS THE ST. ALBERT INITIATIVE? 

The St. Albert Initiative is a half-day program on science and faith for Catholic high school students, teachers, and parents as well as the general public (high school age and above).  It will feature short talks by Catholic scientists and the opportunity to meet, eat with, and ask questions of Catholic scientists in many fields and at various stages of their careers.  

It will be held at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago on Saturday, Feb 5, 2022, from 9am to 3:30pm.   (Light breakfast and sign-in at 9am. Events start at 9:45am)

The St. Albert Initiative is sponsored by the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS), and by the Lumen Christi Institute as part of its "Newman Forums", and by the Science and Religion Initiative of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, with funding by grants from The John Templeton Foundation.   

Event highlights include:

• A 25-minute Opening Talk on "Science and Religion: the Myth of Conflict.".

• ‘Lightning Round’ Talks.  There will be three rounds of 25-minute talks, with a menu of seven talks to choose from. Talk titles:  Is the Universe Made for Life? / What is Human Life and When does it Begin? / Earthquakes, their consequences, and Jesuit Seismology / Evolution and Creation: A Catholic Perspective / Modern Science, the Church and Galileo / The Science and the Theology of Extraterrestrial Life / Wonder in Faith an Science.  

• Big Questions/Ask-a-Scientist Poster Session. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet Catholic scientists one-on-one and ask them about their fields of science, career paths, the big unsolved questions in their areas of science, being a Catholic in science, and anything else they are curious about.  The scientists will be a varied group: young and old; male and female; experimenters and theorists; and in many areas of research. Students interested in STEM subjects and teachers interested in renewing their own understanding will dialogue about high-impact topics, including: genetics, materials science, evolutionary biology, superstring theory, cosmology, environmental science, neuroscience and brain research, and much more. 

Click HERE for the PROGRAM & SCHEDULE.  Click HERE for Bios of Speakers and List of Presenters.

REGISTRATION:  

How to Register:  Registration is closed  

Registration Deadline:  Registration closed on Feb 3, 2022.

Does it Cost Anything to Register?:  

• For high school students (including home schoolers) the event is free.

• For adults, the registration fee is $25; but free for those bring a student with them.

• High school teachers get 8 hours of professional development (certificate to be awarded by the Science and Religion Initiative, Univ. of Notre Dame). 

• Members of the general public are welcome to register to attend the event.

TRAVEL TO THE EVENT, PARKING, CAMPUS MAP :     The closest airport to Mundelein Seminary (see MAP) is O'Hare International Airport.   It is about a 40-minute car ride from O'Hare to Mundelein.   Those who come by car should park in the "Purple Parking Lot" as shown on this Map of the Mundelein Campus.   The presentations will be in the Conference Hall (building D on the campus map). Those registered (see above) will be sent an email before the event with more information where to go when they arrive.

COVID PRECAUTIONS:  The St. Albert Initiative will comply with all COVID-19 requirements of Mundelein Seminary and of the government that may be in force on Feb 5, 2022.

The St. Albert Initiative is named after St. Albert the Great, bishop, scientist, philosopher, theologian, teacher, and patron saint of natural science and scientists.