New Horizons for Science and Religion in Latin America

“Science, Philosophy and Theology in Latin America” was the second part of a six-year project, led by a team at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford, to stimulate world-class research and dissemination of ideas in the region on questions at the intersection of science, philosophy and theology throughout the continent. The project built capabilities in Latin America to address such questions in dialogue with leading researchers and institutions elsewhere in the world. The project was funded by the John Templeton Foundation. The project leaders at Oxford University were Andrew Pinsent and Ignacio Silva.

The project activities included three workshops and a conference, electronic and print media; ten Research Grants, ten Oxford Templeton Visiting Fellowships to Latin America, and ten Oxford Templeton Latin America Scholarships. Through these activities the project provided outstanding opportunities for at least 150 participants across the region to engage directly with leading international academics and to develop ideas and publications addressing these challenges. T he main events of the project were:

Workshop, "The Origin and Meaning of Life," Galapagos Islands, 17-21 August 2015

Workshop, "The Brain, the Mind, and the Human Person," Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, 15-19 August 201

Workshop and Final Project Conference, "The Place of the Person in the Cosmos," Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,  Santiago de Chile, 20-27 September 2017

Over the longer term, throughout Latin America, this project has deepened and extended the capabilities required for advanced, scientifically-informed engagement with key philosophical, religious and theological questions.