Participants in the 2019 Science in the Curriculum Faculty Enrichment Retreat receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the National History Museum of Utah | AAAS/Rob O’Malley

In consultation with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), AAAS DoSER utilized this project to help a diverse group of seminaries integrate science into their core curricula. The value of this project, long recommended by AAAS advisers, stems from the fact that many people look to their religious leaders for guidance on issues relating to science and technology, even though clergy members may have had little exposure to science in their educational experience. A joint survey conducted in 2013 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and sociologists at Rice University found that some Christians (particularly evangelicals) are more likely than other religious groups to consult a religious leader or fellow congregant if they have a scientific question. Science for Seminaries aims to equip religious leaders with a solid scientific foundation from which to answer such questions.

As of December 2022, this project concluded.

Formerly led by Curtis Baxter, Leif Castren, and Dr. John Slattery, Science for Seminaries offers a number of excellent resources to anyone interested in the science/religion conversation:

1. Science: The Wide Angle Video Series

The Science for Seminaries project is dedicated to supplied pedagogical resources to help seminaries and theological schools bring world-class science into the classroom.  First, AAAS, in collaboration with Fourth Line Films, has produced an exciting series of films to spark classroom discussion of forefront science topics, called “Science: The Wide Angle.”  Click here to find out more and view the full set of films!

2. Curriculum Resources

Second, curricular resources from the Science for Seminaries project have been developed by partner institutions who have previously participated in the Science for Seminaries project.  Project resources are searchable by topic, resource type, seminary, and core curriculum area.  Search the syllabi here!

3. Project Seminaries

Finally, look through our project seminaries here!