Workshop: Big Questions. From Science to Philosophy and Theology

On October 16 and 17, 2014, teachers from Faraday Institute for Science and Religion from the University of Cambridge visited the Universidad Austral to teach this seminar, together with Argentine researchers.

The meeting brought together physicists, engineers, cosmologists, biologists, neuroscientists, philosophers, and theologians in a common effort to reduce the gap between the discoveries of contemporary science and philosophical and theological thought.

Location: Auditorium of the Degree Building. Pilar Campus.

 

AGENDA

Thursday October 16

9.15 Registration

10:00 Opening

10.15 Question 1: What Models are the Best Fit for Interactions Between Science and Theology? (What models are best suited for the interaction between science and theology?) Prof. Denis Alexander.

DDenis Alexander holds a PhD in Neurochemistry from the Institute of Psychiatry (London). He is Director Emeritus of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion and a Fellow of St. Edmund's College (University of Cambridge). From 1992 to 2013, he was editor of the journal Science & Christian Belief. He is currently a member of the National Committee of Christians in Science and the Executive Committee of the International Society for Science and Religion.

 

11.00 Coffee break

11.30 Question 2: What were the main milestones in the discussions between science and religion? (“What are the Historical Milestones in the Discussions between Science & Religion?”) Prof. Miguel de Asúa. 

Miguel de Asúa holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Buenos Aires, a Licentiate in Theology from the Catholic University of Argentina, a Master's degree in History and Philosophy of Science, and a Doctorate in History from the University of Notre Dame. He is a Principal Investigator at CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council) and a Full Professor of History of Science at the National University of San Martín and of Philosophy at the Colegio Máximo de San Miguel. He specializes in the history of science in Argentina and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Buenos Aires and the National Academy of History.

 

12.15 Discussion

12:15 Lunch

15.00 Question 3 (Physics): What kind of scientific reality emerges when the microworld of our own universe is explained using the language of quantum field theory? (What Kind of Scientific Reality Appears when the Micro-World of our own Universe Is Explained Using the Language of Quantum Field Theory?)  Prof. Gustavo Aucar.

Gustavo Aucar holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Odense (Denmark). He is a Senior Researcher at CONICET, Director of the CONICET Northeast Scientific and Technological Center, and Full Professor at the National University of the Northeast.

 

 

15.45 Coffee break

16.15 Question 4 (Cosmology): Is the Universe Designed? (Is the universe designed?) Prof. Peter Bussey.

Peter Bussey earned a Master's degree, a PhD in Physics, and a PhD in Science from the University of Cambridge. Before moving to Glasgow in 1971, he was a research fellow at the University of Cambridge, CERN, and the University of Sheffield. He recently retired as Professor of Physics from the University of Glasgow, where he continues to work as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Physics.

 

 

17.30 Discussion

18.15 End of day

Friday October 17

9.30 Question 5 (Biology): What is the role of DNA information in the development of living organisms? (What is the Role of DNA Information for the Development of Living Organisms?) Prof. Jorge Aquino.

Jorge Aquino holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina) and a PhD in Medicine from the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden). He is an Adjunct Researcher at CONICET and an Associate Professor at the Universidad AustralHe is currently investigating non-canonical neural crest derivatives and the application of mesenchymal stem cells for the experimental treatment of liver cirrhosis.

 

10.15 Coffee break

10.45 Question 6 (Genetics & Theology): How Does Contemporary Genetics Interact With Theological Understandings of Human Identity? (How does contemporary genetics relate to the theological understanding of human identity?) Prof. Denis Alexander.

11.30 Discussion

12:15 Lunch

14.30 Question 7 (Neuroscience): Pain and plasticity in the adult somatosensory system: challenges and opportunities. What are the benefits of controlling plasticity in primary sensory neurons? (Pain and Plasticity in the Adult Somatosensory System: Challenges and Opportunities. What Can We Gain by Controlling Plasticity in Primary Sensory Neurons?) Prof. Marcelo J. Villar

Marcelo José Villar is a physician and holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Buenos Aires. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Rector of the Universidad AustralHe currently serves as Principal Investigator at CONICET and Full Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the Universidad Austral and a member of several national and international scientific associations.

 

15.15 Question 8 (Robotics): Computational intelligence and bio-inspired systems. Could computers replace humans in the future? (Computational Intelligence and Bioinspired Systems. Could Computers Substitute for Humans in the Future?) Prof. Leonardo Rufiner.

Leonardo Rufiner holds a degree in Bioengineering from the National University of Entre Ríos, a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Autonomous Metropolitan University (Mexico), and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires. He is an Independent Researcher at CONICET and a Full Professor at the National University of Entre Ríos and the National University of the Littoral. He directs the Cybernetics Laboratory (UNER) and is a member of the Research Center for Signals, Systems, and Computational Intelligence (UNL-CONICET).

 

16.00 Coffee break

16.30 Question 9 (Theology): What Does it Mean to be Human?  (What does it mean to be human?) Prof. Hilary Marlow.

Hilary Marlow studied Social Sciences at the University of Manchester, Biblical Studies at King's College London, and earned a doctorate in Theology from the University of Cambridge. She currently serves as Director of Programs at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion and is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge (Faculty of Divinity).

 

 

17.15 Discussion

18.00 Closing: How should we approach the relationship between science, philosophy, and theology today? (How do we Approach the Relation between Science, Philosophy & Theology in Today's World?) Prof. Claudia Vanney.

 

Claudia Vanney holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Navarra. She is the Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the Universidad Austral and Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the same university. She was a Visiting Professor at the University of Navarra and the University of Oxford.

 

18.30 End of program