To register for COFAS, click on EVENTBRITE.COM.
The conference is FREE for university students, faculty members, clergy and STEM professionals. Full conference information is below.
University students and faculty members are eligible to win one of five awards of $100 by completing the ASU Conversations in Community survey now and a second survey in April. Only one entry is allowed per person and multiple entries by a single person will be disqualified.
The Conference on Faith and Science (COFAS) will take place in the Student Pavilion at Arizona State University in Tempe on Friday, March 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m., through Saturday, March 23, 4:30 p.m. The Student Pavilion is located at 400 E. Orange St. in Tempe, northeast of the ASU Memorial Union. Pay parking ($3 per hour) is available in the Rural Road Parking Structure at 1100 S. Rural Road (between Lemon St. and Terrace Dr.). Free parking is available in the parking garage on the north side of the Tempe Institute of Religion at 1000 S. McAllister Ave. The Student Pavilion is approximately 500 meters west of these Parking Structures.
The COFAS theme is “Pursuing Science and Christian Faith for Human Flourishing.” In this context, “Science” is understood broadly to encompass mainstream science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and allied fields. “Christian Faith” includes Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches and denominations, or, in the words of C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity.” The COFAS Statement of Faith is that of the American Scientific Affiliation, which affirms the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. “Human Flourishing” is a biblical concept articulated by the Hebrew word shalom in the Old Testament and the Greek word makarios in the New Testament.
Conference Tracks (tracks will led by teams composed of faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, professionals in STEM, and by campus ministers and church pastors):
- Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences
- Engineering and Technology
- Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
- Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Studies of Faith and Science
- Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology
- Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences
Conference Schedule:
Friday, March 22, 7:30 p.m. (Free Event, Open to the Public without Registration): Keynote addresses on the COFAS theme of “Pursuing Science and Christian Faith for Human Flourishing” by Professor Leslie Wickman, Executive Director of the American Scientific Affiliation, and Professor Stephen Barr, President of the Society of Catholic Scientists.
Saturday, March 23, 9:00 a.m. (Free Event, but registration is required at www.eventbrite.com; free for university students, faculty members, clergy, and STEM professionals):
- 8:00 a.m.: Check-In and Continental Breakfast (Foyer of Student Pavilion)
- 9:00 a.m.: Morning Plenary Session (Senita Ballroom of the Student Pavilion)
- 10:00 a.m.: Breakout Sessions by Tracks (Locations around ASU Tempe)
- 12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Poster Session (Senita Ballroom of the Student Pavilion)
- 2:00 p.m.: Afternoon Plenary Session with Panel Presentations by Tracks (Senita Ballroom)
- 4:00 p.m.: Concluding Remarks and Pastoral Blessings (Conference ends at 4:30 p.m.)
Keynote Speakers (with Track Assignments):
Stephen Barr, Professor of Physics, University of Delaware, and President of the Society of Catholic Scientists (Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology)
Andrew Briggs, Professor of Nanomaterials, Department of Materials, University of Oxford (Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology)
James Buizer, Professor of Climate Adaptation and International Development, University of Arizona (Environmental Sciences and Sustainability)
Greg Cootsona, Lecturer, Department of Comparative Religion and Humanities, California State University at Chico, and Director of The STEAM Project (Historical, Philosophical, Theological Studies of Faith and Science)
Georgia Dunston, Founding Director of the National Human Genome Center, Howard University (Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences)
Fr. Paul Gabor, Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory Research Group, Tucson, Arizona (Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology)
Philip Kurian, Founding Director of the Quantum Biology Laboratory and Research Assistant Professor, Howard University (Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Studies of Faith and Science)
Jonathan Lunine, Director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Cornell University, and Vice President of the Society of Catholic Scientists (Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology)
Don Page, Professor of Physics, University of Alberta, and Cosmology Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (Physical and Molecular Sciences / Astronomy and Cosmology)
Leslie Wickman, Professor of Aerospace-Industrial-Mechanical Engineering, California Baptist University, and Executive Director of the American Scientific Affiliation (Engineering and Technology)
Everett Worthington, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University (Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences)
COFAS is sponsored by the Arizona Center for Christian Studies, by Christian student organizations and faculty members at Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, University of Arizona, and University of Mary, and by the American Scientific Affiliation (www.asa3.org) and Veritas Forum (www.veritas.org). COFAS is made possible through the support of an award from the Conversations in Community project of the Office for Science, Theology, and Religion (STAR) Initiatives at Fuller Theological Seminary. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Fuller Seminary, the Conversations in Community project, or other sponsors.