Centre for Religion and the Biosciences

Centre for Religion and the Biosciences

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University College Chester
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
Chester, Cheshire

The Centre for Religion and the Biosciences (CRB) was established in recognition of the growing importance of fostering constructive dialogue between different religious traditions and new developments in the biosciences, including medicine. The local society program is designed to encourage critical exchange not only between those who are faculty members of the centre, but also to broaden the debate by hosting themed public lectures which are widely advertised and are designed to attract a wide audience, including those who are high school students and ministers of religion local to the area. In addition, smaller interdisciplinary study groups involving postgraduate students and professionals meet on a quarterly basis in order to foster specific discussions on current literature in the field. These groups present a seminar once a year, attended by society members and open to friends of the centre and other members of the public. A biannual newsletter is used as another medium of summarizing the work of the program. Each year culminates in an annual conference and incorporates both public lectures and scholarly academic presentations designed for eventual publication. Public lectures and the conference lectures are recorded and made available through the CRB website. Matching funds are provided by the Chester College Foundation and a Christendom Trust grant.