We cordially invite faculty in the sciences from UNC to join colleagues at Duke, NC State, and NC Central for this virtual evening of dinner and conversation with Dr. Elaine Howard Ecklund, sociologist at Rice University. 

Dr. Ecklund has spent the last fifteen years conducting research on the views and beliefs of scientists and church goers. In the areas most rife with conflict–the origins of the universe, evolution, climate change, and genetic technology—she now finds fascinating points of convergence in eight virtues of human existence: curiosity, doubt, humility, creativity, healing, awe, shalom, and gratitude. If common ground is not yet found in views and beliefs, might it be found in shared human virtues? How might focusing first on shared human virtues–and what each community can learn from the other–create bridges between that move us beyond fear and distrust and into deeper conversation?

This event is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Study Center and Intervarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministries, with the Center for Christianity & Scholarship at Duke serving as the lead sponsor. It is made possible by the generosity of the John Templeton Foundation.

Registration will be conducted by email invitation mid-February.  Please contact matt@ncstudycenter.org if you are an interested faculty member and have not received an e-invitation by that time.