2006 LSI SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT AWARDS

Studio Filosofica Interprovinciale “San Tommaso d’Aquino”
Napoli, Italy
Chairperson:  Fernando Di Mieri, Ph.D.
http://www.studiumtommaso.it

This society, which draws its members from regional universities and other academic institutions, is embarked on three major projects, in addition to its ongoing group meetings and public lectures. First, members are organizing a program entitled, “Science and Faith: Paths for New Perspectives in Secondary Education.” This interdisciplinary activity aims to engage younger students in the science and religion dialogue. An interdisciplinary team of university researchers will hold a seminar with area school teachers and students. The project calls for creating a quarterly newsletter for disseminating content and strategies for promoting the constructive engagement of science and religion in the schools, and the newsletter will be distributed to an even wider audience than just the program participants. This program will be widely advertised, and it may become a pilot project for other regions of the country. Second, members are developing a scholarly networking project entitled, “Mediterranean as a Metaphor for the Encounter Among Christian, Jews, and Muslims.” This is envisioned as a high-level dialogue among scholars and adherents of the great monotheistic faiths in the Mediterranean region, from the Middle East, across North Africa, through Spain, and back to Italy, where this society is based. Initial collaboration and support has been pledged by the prestigious Instituto Orientale for studies of Eastern cultures and languages in Napoli, the Instituto San Nicola for Eastern Orthodoxy in Bari, the Center for Dialogue with Islam in Palermo, and the network of institutions in the region associated with the Dominican Order, with more connections being actively pursued. Third, in conjunction with the University of Naples and other area educational institutions, the society intends to establish a permanent center for science and faith that would offer both high-level symposia and study circles as well as a Master’s Degree in Science and Religion. This is a joint project with other LSI groups in the region, the local government, and area universities. And if you want to talk about leverage, this society will probably take the prize. The somehow turned a $5,000 per year grant into a 35 million euro opportunity: they have been offered one of the historic villas along the “golden mile” outside Napoli for their exclusive use to serve as their headquarters, lecture halls, classrooms, library, and dormitory. These major projects are bold and ambitious. I know this society would w

Award Accepted by : Fernando di Mieri

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For further information or other inquires, please contact Metanexus at 212.789.2200 or lsi@metanexus.net.