Keynote Speaker
Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase
Senior Scientist and Senior Education and Communication Specialist
Planetary Science Institute
A Cosmic Journey: Reflections on Faith, Science, & Creative Interaction
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I was mesmerized by space long before I was able to explain what Astronomy is, let alone what an Astronomer actually does. Science 鈥� like faith 鈥� is a process, a journey that is characterized by interactions and relationships. Indeed, the concept of interaction is central to how we understand the Universe, which appears to be better described as an evolving web of relationships rather than a collection of 鈥渢hings.鈥� Modern science itself is a community enterprise, involving interactions between many people who bring complementary and overlapping skills to build on the work of past generations. In the Christian traditions, the concept of interaction is similarly fundamental to considering God鈥檚 relationship to nature, our relationship to each other, and to a Trinitarian understanding of God.
My presentation will explore how interactions and relationships play out in my research on the birth of stars and planets; how they are central to engaging communities in 鈥減eople-powered research;鈥� and how the creative mutual interaction between science and faith can deepen ways of thinking about God.
Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase is an astronomer who is a Senior Scientist and Senior Education and Communication Specialist for the . Dr. Wolf-Chase is involved in multiple efforts to promote academic dialogue between science and religion. She was the leader of a project entitled "", which was managed by the . A on the Zooinverse website provides further background on the project. She is Vice President of the , an independent organization of scientists and theologians that supports the Zygon Center for Religion and Science and co-publishes . She also serves as an advisor for the Science for Seminaries program.