Program and Schedule
Schedule for St. Albert Initiative, Feb. 5, 2022, Mundelein Seminary
· 9:00am – 9:45am: Breakfast (optional) and Sign-in
· 9:45am – 10:00am: Opening Prayer, Welcome, and Introduction
· 10:00am – 10:45am: “Science and the Catholic Faith” (Stephen Barr, President, Society of Catholic Scientists, Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Delaware) Many have claimed that modern science and Christian faith are fundamentally at odds and have historically been in conflict. Prof. Barr will show how a better understanding of Catholic teaching, of science and of history paint a very different picture.
· 10:45am – 11:00am: Break
· 11:00am – 11:30am: Lightning Round Talks. Round #1
CHOICES (choose one talk):
"What is a human being and when does life begin?" (Maureen Condic)
"Earthquakes, their Consequences, & the Jesuit Pioneers of Seismology” (Natasha Toghramadjian)
“Modern Science, the Catholic Church, and the Galileo Affair" (Cory Hayes)
"Wonder in Science and Faith" (Chris Stoughton)
· 11:30am – 12:30pm: Lunch
· 12:45pm – 1:15pm: Lightning Round Talks. Round #2
CHOICES (choose one talk):
"What is a human being and when does life begin?" (Maureen Condic)
"The Science and Theology of Extraterrestrial Life" (Timothy Dolch)
“Evolution and Creation: A Catholic Perspective” (Sister Stephen Patrick Joly, O.P.)
“Is the Universe Made for Life?” (Stephen Barr)
1:15pm – 1:25pm: Break
· 1:30pm – 2:00pm: Lightning Round Talks. Round #3
CHOICES (choose one talk):
"Earthquakes, their Consequences, & the Jesuit Pioneers of Seismology” (Natasha Toghramadjian)
"The Science and Theology of Extraterrestrial Life" (Timothy Dolch)
“Evolution and Creation: A Catholic Perspective” (Sr. Stephen Patrick Joly, O.P.)
“Modern Science, the Catholic Church, and the Galileo Affair" (Cory Hayes)
2:00pm – 2:15pm: Break
2:15pm – 3:30pm “Big Questions/Ask-a-Scientist” Poster Session
In this session, attendees will be able to meet and ask questions of a dozen Catholic scientists representing a wide variety of branches of science. Each scientist will be standing at a poster that says what some of the biggest unanswered questions are in his or her field of research. Attendees will get to ask them questions about their science, their faith, how they integrate the two in their lives, what they work on, what the most exciting questions in their fields are, what it is like to go into science, or … anything else they want to know about! This is an opportunity to interact individually or in small groups with Catholic research scientists.
· 3:30pm: Closing Prayer
Brief Descriptions of the Lightning Round Talks:
o "What is a human being and when does life begin?" (Maureen Condic, Assoc. Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah School of Medicine) The questions of who is a human being and when does a human being arise during the process of human development have profound implications for society, for medicine and for the law.
o “Earthquakes, their Consequences, and the Jesuit Pioneers of Seismology” (Natasha Toghramadjian, 4th year graduate student, Harvard University)
The great earthquake of 1755 obliterated the Catholic city of Lisbon and caused many to question their faith. It also spurred the creation of the science of seismology, often called “the Jesuit Science” because of the pioneering work of Jesuit missionaries who set up the first seismic stations in many areas of the globe. This talk will tell about the remarkable history of earthquakes and their consequences and the speaker’s own field work on three continents.
o “Modern Science, the Catholic Church, and the Galileo Affair” (Cory Hayes, Professor of Philosophy and Theology, St. Joseph Seminary College, New Orleans) Beginning with Copernicus and ending with St. John Paul II, Dr. Cory Hayes will examine the trials of Galileo, the major players involved and the issues that were at play in his 1633 condemnation by the Inquisition, overcoming misconceptions and deepening our understanding of the lessons it has for us today.
o “Wonder in Science and Faith” (Christopher Stoughton, Senior Scientist, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory)
We are surrounded by wonder. Science enhances our view of creation's majesty. The very small, the very large, and everything in between serve up wonders which strengthen Faith. Dr. Stoughton will recount stories from a variety of scientists sharing their wonder moments and discuss how this relates to our Faith
o “The Science and Theology of Extraterrestrial Life” (Timothy Dolch, Associate Professor of Physics, Hillsdale College) What does the latest research tell us about other habitable planets and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, including rational species like us? How do scientists search for it? If rational ET species exist, what would it mean theologically? Would they be made in the "image of God"?
o “Evolution and Creation: A Catholic Perspective” (Sr. Stephen Patrick Joly, O.P., Ph.D., Lansing Catholic HS)
For some, the scientific theory of evolution is seen as incompatible with a God who has knowingly and purposely fashioned us. But, as s Pope Benedict XVI stated, creation and evolution represent “two complementary — rather than mutually exclusive — realities.” This talk will guide participants to see the harmony between evolutionary biology and the Catholic faith.
o “Is the Universe Made for Life?” (Stephen Barr, President, Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Delaware)
In recent decades physicists have discovered that many features of the fundamental laws of physics are “just right” to make life (including complex living things such as ourselves) possible. These are sometimes called “anthropic coincidences.” Do these show that the universe was made with us in mind? Or does the “multiverse” idea explain them? Or possibly both?
o “God and the Dinosaurs” (Peter Dodson, Professor of Dinosaur Paleontology, University of Pennsylvania)
Prof. Dodson will talk about the adventure of being a paleontologist making discoveries about dinosaurs and how these strange and wonderful creatures fit into our understanding of God and the world He created.
·