Hyde Park Religion and Science Society awarded $10,000 grant

Society member Jennifer Baldwin accepts grant award from Metanexus Local Societies Initiative Director Eric Weislogel and John M. Templeton, Jr.

The Hyde Park Religion and Science Society was awarded a $10,000 grant by the Metanexus Institute Local Societies Initiative on Tuesday, June 5, 2007. It was one of two organizations in the United States to receive supplemental grants, which provide funding to local religion and science societies that have proved “particularly innovative, creative, and effective in their efforts to engage in and promote the religion and science dialogue.”

The Hyde Park Religion and Science Society is a student society jointly sponsored by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) and the Zygon Center for Religion and Science (ZCRS). It was founded in 2004 with a Metanexus Local Societies Initiative grant and matching funds from LSTC. The society invites students in all disciplines from the Hyde Park theological schools and the University of Chicago to become members. Current members include students at LSTC and the University of Chicago who also work as pastors, teachers, and research scientists.

The Hyde Park Society's goal is to encourage and equip young scholars of religion and science toward making a future impact on academic teaching and education among religious communities. The society has co-sponsored events such as “Partnering in Prevention and Care: An HIV/AIDS Workshop for Medical & Religious Professionals” and invited prominent guest speakers to LSTC. This year, it sponsored or co-sponsored 8 lectures and provided scholarships for graduate students to participate in 33 academic conferences.

To learn more about the Hyde Park Religion and Science Society, see www.zygoncenter.org/student_soc.html or contact Zygon Center for Religion and Science: zcrs@zygoncenter.org or 773-256-0670.