Why does anyone choose to spend their lives studying astronomy? Why does our society support this work? These questions mask a deeper question: why do individuals choose to spend their lives in pursuit of science? The motivation behind our choices, both as individuals and as a society, is based in our assumptions about what the universe is and how it works. These assumptions are, at their root, religious tenets, as can be seen in the history of the Church’s relationship with astronomy, including research happening today at the Vatican Observatory.
The 9th Annual V. Elving Anderson Lecture on Science and Religion will be delivered by world-renowned astronomer Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory. His professional expertise is in Planetary Science, more specifically Asteroids and Meteorites, and in 2014 he was the recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding communication by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society.
The V. Elving Anderson Lecture in Science & Religion is an honorary lectureship dedicated to probing deep questions of science and faith. Held annually since 2014, you can find past Anderson Lectures here on our YouTube channel. V. Elving Anderson (1921 – 2014) served from 1961-1991 on the faculty at the University of Minnesota. A deeply committed Christian, he spent most of his career working to promote dialogue concerning the intersections between science and religion.
Anselm House exists to help students and faculty at the University of Minnesota connect faith & knowledge with all of life. For 40 years, Anselm House has sought to wholeheartedly serve the University of Minnesota from the center of campus. From the very beginning we’ve endeavored to help the campus community—from freshman to faculty—make meaningful connections. Our story is one of gathering, educating, and sending out whole leaders for the whole of life.
