Faith, Science and the Vatican
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 2
In 2009, the spotlight again falls on the relationship between science and religion. As scientists search for the origins of the universe, broadcasters gear up for the Galileo & Darwin anniversaries and conflict persists over creationism and reproductive technologies such as embryonic stem cell research, the Catholic Church faces some of the biggest challenges to its doctrine in centuries. How is it responding to new scientific possibilities and to requests for spokespeople and access? This session looks at the intersection of science and faith past and present, explores the role the Vatican has played and still plays in the field of scientific research, and asks if the “mutual prejudice” that has historically existed between science and religion is resolving.
Sponsored by Wall to Wall
Session Producer:
Clare Handford, Independent Producer (UK)
Moderator:
Sara Ramsden, Creative Director, Cheetah Television, Endemol UK (UK)
Panelists:
Giovanni Bignami, Astronomer, Italian Space Agency (Italy)
Elena Cattaneo, PhD, Director, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano (Italy)
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ; Jesuit Brother and Planetary Scientist; Vatican Observatory (Vatican City State)
Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer, Associated Producers (Canada)
Father Tomasz Trafny; Executive Coordinator; Science, Theology and Ontological Quest Project; Pontifical Council for Culture (Vatican City State)
Cristina Trebbi, Producer, Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion GmbH (Germany)