PARTICIPANTS
Richard AMOROSO
Director of the Noetic Advanced Studies Institute & founding editor of the Noetic Journal; both dedicated primarily to investigating Cosmology of Mind. Professor Amoroso wears two hats; one as Physical Cosmologist and 2nd as Mormon High Priest. His academic career has focused on the integration of science and spirituality, with over 100 technical papers, books and chapters published across a broad spectrum including Astrophysics, Quantum Computing, Medicine & Philosophy of Mind. His Continuous State Conscious Universe model introduces an empirically testable physical basis for the elan vital.
Gennaro AULETTA
Born 1957, in Neaples, and living in Rome. PhD and PostDoc in Philosophy, University of Rome "La Sapienza". Scientific Director of the Specialization "Science and Philosophy" at the Gregortian University in Rome and invited Professor at the University of Urbino. Area of research: Quantum mechanics (especially foundational and interpretational issues), logic, cognitive sciences, information theory. Recent books: Foundations and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, World Scientific, 2000; 2nd ed. 2001; Introduction to Logic (in Italian), Roma, 2002; 2nd ed. 2004
Nicolae BULZ
Assistant Professor - Ecological University Bucharest (Managerial Engineering Faculty, chief for the courses: Systems Modeling and Simulation; Computer Aided Design, European Technological Civilization; Operational Research; Systems Simulation inside Science – Religion interface. Scientific secretary of the Faculty Council. Interdisciplinary Laboratory – founder.) Ph.D. engineer (Automatic Systems / human-machine interface domain // analysis and synthesis – operative decisions neural networks#co-ordinations – mental concept / construct insight). Membership: CHAOS (Centre for Hyperincursion and Anticipation in Ordered Systems); International Sociological Association; Romanian Committee for History and Philosophy of Science and Techniques – of the Romanian Academy, Executive President of the Interdisciplinary Research Group.
Michel CAZENAVE
Ancien élève de l’École Normale Supérieure. Responsable de programmes à Radio France / France Culture. Directeur de la traduction en français des Œuvres complètes de Jung. Écrivain et philosophe.
Khalil CHAMCHAM
Ph.D., D.Phil. He holds a French doctorate in nuclear physics from University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France, and a D.Phil. in astrophysics from Sussex University, United Kingdom. He taught for many years in Morocco and worked at several international institutions. He is currently carrying out his research in astrophysics and theology at Oxford University. His main research interests are star formation, cosmology, Christology, scientific development in the Islamic world and the interfaith dialogue. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union, where he is involved with the Commission for Education and Astronomy Development.
Dan Radu CONSTANTINESCU
Born in 1955, Tg.-Jiu, Romania. Ph.D. in Quantum Field Theories, University of Craiova, Romania. Many specialization stages in Italy, France, Belgium, Sweden. One of his special scientific interests is connected with the philosophy of sciences and with the relation between sciences and religion. Director of the CDST – Center for Dialogues between Sciences and Theology. This Center developed a first project “SReDOC- Science and religion Dialogues in the Orthodox Church”, granted by the University of California (USA). Grant (2003-2006) from the Metanexus Institute (Philadelphia, USA) for the project “Dialogues on Technological Pollution. A sensitive spirit in a clean world.” January 2005: grant offered by Templeton Foundation, USA within the program Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality.
Christopher J. CORBALLY
Father Christopher J. Corbally, S.J., is a Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory. As such, he oversees the Observatory's research group in Tucson, while maintaining contact and occasional visits to the Observatory's headquarters at Castel Gandolfo, Italy. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona.
Doru COSTACHE
Doctor of theology, University of Bucharest, Romania. Parish priest, St Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Sydney, Australia. Lecturer, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, Sydney, Australia. Founder and Vice-president of the Association for the Dialogue between Science and Theology in Romania. Founder of the editing house XXI: The dogmatic eon, Bucharest.
Manos DANEZIS
Assistant Professor of Astrophysics Faculty of Physics Department of Astrophysics, Astronomy & Mechanics University of Athens.
Pranab K. DAS
Chair of the Department of Physics at Elon University. His research is in the Physics of nonlinear systems and includes studies of the chaotic behavior of neural networks. Professor Das is a participant in the Science and Spiritual Quest project and is the author of the book on the history of science and religion entitled “Science and Religion: Bridging the Gap”.
Milan S. DIMITRIJEVIC
Astronomer and physicist, working as research professor at Belgrade Astronomical Observatory, where he was director 1994-2002. He was also editor in chief of the Serbian Astronomical Journal. His scientific interest includes Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasma Spectroscopy, History and Philosophy of Astronomy and Physics and Popularization of Science.
Charles L. HARPER Jr.
He is Senior Vice President of the John Templeton Foundation. He was educated at Princeton, Oxford and Harvard. He was a National Research Council Fellow at the NASA Johnson Space Center (1988-91) and a research scientist at Harvard in Earth and Planetary Sciences and at the Observatory (1991-5). He is co-editor of "Science and Ultimate Reality" (CUP), and "Fitness of the Cosmos for Life", (forthcoming also from CUP). His most recent edited book is "Spiritual Information: 100 Perspectives from Science and Religion" (Templeton Foundation Press).
Oana IFTIME
B.Sc. (Biology); M.S. (Genetics); Ph. D. candidate (Life sciences). Assistant professor (University of Bucharest). Scientific researcher (MICROGEN, University of Bucharest). Research interests in microbiology, genetics and bioethics.
Răzvan Andrei IONESCU
1. Parish priest, „Sainte Parascheva - Sainte Genevieve” parish (Paris, France), Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe. 2. Executive of the "Science and Theology" Department, the Center of Applied Theology Studies, Craiova.
Technical studies: Industrial Electronics Engineer, Master of Medical Engineering, Doctor of Biomedical Engineering. Theological studies: License and Master in Orthodox theology. Member of two international bodies interested in the relationship science-theology.
Radu Constantin JECU
Graduated Polytechnic University of Bucharest (mechanical engineer, 1981). Graduated The University of Bucharest, Faculty of Orthodox Theology (theologian, 2002); thesis: “Actual Perspectives in the Communication of the Evangelical Message through Catechesis and Preachment”. Communications: “Human Communication – A Christian Approach” at the International Conference “Science and Religion: Antagonism or Complementarity?” 2001, Bucharest, Romania. Fields of interest: (social) communication of church, social work of the Orthodox Church, modernity and secularization in the Orthodox Church.
Jean KOVALEVSKY
Ancien élève de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure. Astronome, il a d’abord travaillé dans le domaine de la Mécanique Céleste. Il a ensuite créé le Service de Calcul et de Mécanique Céleste du Bureau des Longitudes. Suite à ses travaux sur les applications de la Mécanique Céleste aux mouvements des satellites artificiels, il a créé le CRGS (Groupe de Recherches de Géodésie Spatiale) et le CERGA (Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches en Géodynamique et Astronomie). Il en a été le premier directeur. Il a animé un des consortiums de réduction des données du programme d’astrométrie spatiale Hipparcos. Il est membre de l’Académie des Sciences et fut Président du Comité des Poids et Mesures de 1997 à 2004.
Paul Alexander KOROLUK
Raised in the Ukrainian Orthodox Faith, he studied Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan before moving, in 1988, to Japan, where he now serves as pastor of an Orthodox mission while continuing secular employment at an intellectual property law firm. With the support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyivan Patriarchate, he is now continuing his studies through the St. Stephen’s Course offered by the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.
Arnold LEBEUF
Diplom of the I.N.C.L.O. Linguage and Civilisation of the Gypsies, Paris. Diplom of the EHESS, Toulouse‑Paris. Doctor of the EHESS ; Paris. Habilitation at Cracow University. Professor at the Institute for the History of Religions, Jagiellonian University, Cracow. Author or co-author of some fifty publications, among which are: Author or co-author of some fifty publications, among which are: "Les yeux de Sainte‑Lucie, thèse de doctorat EHESS, 1990; "Astronomia en Xochicalco" Chapter of the book "La Acropolis de Xochicalco", collaboration with Miguel Leon-Portilla; Norberto Gonzales; Beatriz de la Fuente, ed. J. Wimer, Instituto de Cultura de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexique, 1995; "Cosmology of a love madness" (chapter concerning astronomical aspects in the Turkmen ballad of Gorogly) in S. Zeranska-Kominek and A. Lebeuf, "The tale of Crazy Harman", Dialog, Warsaw, 1997; "Les éclipses dans l'ancien Mexique" Jagiellonian University Press, Cracow, 2003.
Adrian LEMENI
Born in 1971. Lecturer in the Dogmatics and Fundamental Theology at the Faculty of the Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest. PhD in the Orthodox Theology and post-doctorales studies at the Catholic Institut of Paris. Books: The Eschatological Sense of Creation (2004), Science and Religion (2001, co-author), studies in different volumes and reviews. Involved in the interdisciplinary research.
Thierry MAGNIN
Ph.D, Th.D, Professor of Solid-State Physics at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines of St Etienne (France). He won the prestigious Laureat Award of the French Academy of Sciences in 1991. His is also a catholic priest and general vicar of the diocese of St Etienne. The topic of his thesis in theology was “on the relationship between science and theology today”. He has written four books on this field and more than two hundred papers and reviews on solid-state physics.
Solomon MARCUS
Member of the Romanian Academy, Emeritus Professor of the University of Bucharest, author of about 30 books and 400 papers in heterogeneous fields, such as mathematical analysis, theoretical computer science, linguistics, semiotics, poetics, history and philosophy of science. He also published several hundreds of articles on topics of general cultural interest. He is internationally recognized as one of the initiators in the field of mathematical and computational linguistics, as well as in the field of mathematical poetics. His main slogan is: Bridging science and the humanities. See for more: http://funinf.cs.unibuc.ro/~marcus
Alexei NESTERUK
Dr. Alexei Nesteruk is a senior lecturer at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Portsmouth. His current research projects are: “Towards a Neo-Patristic Synthesis of theology and science” and “Phenomenology of Cosmology”. A. Nesteruk is author of 80 articles in cosmology, science and theology, and a monograph Light from the East: Theology, science and the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, published by Fortress Press in 2003.
Argyris NICOLAIDIS
Professor of Theoretical Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His scientific work is centered on phenomenology of particle interactions, neutrino astrophysics, cosmic rays, strings, extra dimensions of space, dualities between gravity and Yang-Mills theories. He received the Empirikion Prize for Natural Sciences (1988) and was a Fulbright Scholar (1995). He is a member of the scientific council of NESTOR (Institute of Deep Sea Research and Technology and Astroparticle Neutrino Physics), the Committee for the Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Telescope, the scientific objectives working group of EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory). Coordinator of activities on topics interfacing science-philosophy-religion.
Basarab NICOLESCU
Theoretical physicist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France. Member of the Romanian Academy. President. Founder of the International Center for Transdisciplinary Research and Studies (CIRET). Founder and Director of the “Transdisciplinarity” Series, Rocher Editions and of “Romanians of Paris” Series, Oxus Editions. A specialist in the theory of elementary particles, Basarab Nicolescu is the author of more than one hundred twenty articles in leading international scientific journals, has made numerous contributions to science anthologies and participated in several dozens French radio and TV documentaries on science and philosophy. Basarab Nicolescu is the major advocate of the transdisciplinary reconciliation between Science and the Humanities. His books include: Manifesto of Transdisciplinarity, State University of New York (SUNY) Press, New York, 2002; Nous, la particule et le monde, Rocher, Monaco, 2002 (2nd edition) ; Science, Meaning and Evolution - The Cosmology of Jacob Boehme, Parabola Books, New York, 1991. Member of the “Science and Spiritual Quest” program SSQ2 (CTNS, Berkeley) and of the International Society for Science and Religion.
Ioana –Carmen POPESCU
BS of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry as Inorganic Chemical Technology engineer (1993). PhD candidate at the Organic Chemistry Center form Romanian Academy (2001). Communications: “Where is the frontier between science and religion?” at the International Conference “Science and Religion: Antagonism or Complementarity?” 2001, Bucharest, Romania. „The Parthenon - A living prove of interaction between science and art” at ”The Xth ESSSAT Conference”, 2004, Barcelona, Spain. Fields of interest: the dialogue between science and religion, environment protection, ecological rehabilitation of areas affected by uranium mining activity, heavy metals organo-metallurgy.
Archbishop Lazar PUHALO
He is retired Archbishop of Ottawa and All Canada, Orthodox Church in America. He studied physics as the University of British Columbia before entering seminary. He has developed a course in Quantum Physics as Theology, which he teaches and lectures on in various universities in Canada and America.
Elizabeth A. RAUSCHER
B.S. Physics & Chemistry, M.S. Nuclear Engineering, PhD Nuclear Science & Astrophysics, all at UC Berkeley, USA. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) 19 years Nuclear Science & Theory programs. International Consultant to Government, Industry & Academia, 20 years. NASA space shuttle engineer, delegate to United Nations on long term energy & environment. Published four books and over 275 papers & book chapters. 3 US patents & 1 European patent in medicine and earthquate sensing.
Pauline RUDD
Reader at the University of Oxford and heads the Structural Glycobiology Group in the Glycobiology Institute in the Department of Biochemistry. Her research group focuses on novel antiviral strategies and a range of new diagnostics as well as roles for glycosylation in diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disease. Associate of the Anglican Community of St. Mary the Virgin in Wantage, Oxfordshire, UK. Her presentations in the science and religion field include those at the Chataqua Institution, the State of the World conference (NY), Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Al Akhawayn University, Morocco and the Parliament of World Religions, Barcelona.
Jean STAUNE
Assistant Professor in Philosophy of Science in the MBA section of HEC (Paris). He has several degrees from French universities and Grandes Écoles in Philosophy of science, human paleontology, computer science, mathematics, economy, and management. Dr Staune is the founder and general secretary of the Interdisciplinary University of Paris (UIP), which has organised some of the most important meetings in science and religion in Europe. He has managed and co-managed important programs of Science and Religion in many different religious frameworks (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Islam). He is the co-director of the Local Society on Science and Religion based at the Benedictine Abbaye of Wisques. He was the first winner in the French-speaking world of Science and Religion Course Program Award in 1997.He is invited professor in two Pontifical Universities in Rome and in the University of Shandong (China)
Magda STAVINSCHI
Member of: IAU- International Astronomical Union, “Euroscience”, COSPAR, CIRET (International Center for Transdisciplinary Research), chair of IAU working-group „The Future Development of the Ground-Based Astrometry” (2000-2006), European Astronomical Society councilor (2000-2004), chair Sub-Regional European Astronomical Committee, chair of SEAC (European Society „Astronomy in Culture”) working group „Astronomy and cultural heritage, director of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (1990-2005), president of „Astronomia 21”association. PI for the JFT Program "Science and Religion in Romania", and president of the Association for the Dialogue between Science and Theology in Romania. Main organizer of the first meeting for this kind of dialogue in a postcommunist and orthodox country.
Gheorghe STRATAN
Diploma in Nuclear Physics (Bucharest University, 1965). Ph. D. in Theoretical Physics (Bucharest University, 1974). Research Scientist 1st degree, (professor), Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (from 1999), Professor, head of Chair of History of Science at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. Five international awards. Ten translations, commented and/or prefaced. Four original books, more than 60 articles, mainly abroad. Science and Religion Courses in Bucharest Cluj and abroad.
Renata TATOMIR
PhD candidate. Egyptologist Research Assistant – Sergiu Al-George Institute of Oriental Studies, Bucharest, Romania. Lecturer in Oriental Ancient History – Hyperion University, Faculty of History. PhD candidate in Universal Ancient History (Bucharest University, Faculty of History) with a thesis on “Oriental Influences in Popular Hermetics in Some Eastern Provinces of the Roman Empire, I – III centuries A.D.” (Supervising Prof.univ. Dr. Alexandru Barnea). 2001 – 2004 – scholarships at the Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale, Cairo, Egypt
Archbishop TEODOSIE PETRESCU
His Eminence Dr. Teodosie Petrescu, Archbishop of Tomis, was born in 1955 in Dorna Arini county of Suceava. After theological studies at the Neamt monastery Seminary, and the Theological Institute in Bucharest, he benefitted from a scholarship in Birmingham, U.K. From 1999 he holds an PhD in Theology, and from 2002 professor.
In December 2002 he was granted the presidential distinction „Star of Romania in rank of Cavalier”, and from 2003 correspondent member of the Academy of Scientists.
Today, he is the Archbishop of Tomis and Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Ovidius University in Constantza.
Efstratios THEODOSSIOU
Professor of History and Philosophy of Astronomy and of Astrophysics, at the University of Athens. His scientific interests include History and Philosophy of Astronomy and Physical Sciences, Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics, in particular satellite spectrophotometry of Be and variable stars.
Trinh Xuan Thuan
He is a native of Vietnam. Bachelor of Sciences in Physics - California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 1970 and Ph.D in Astrophysics - Princeton University, 1974. Since 1976 he has been a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia. He specializes in the study of dwarf galactic systems, the building blocks of the universe, and has written about 200 articles on the formation of elements in the Big Bang and galaxy formation and evolution. He has written several books for the general public.His books include The Secret Melody, The Birth of the Universe and Chaos and Harmony, translated in some 15 languages and all best-sellers in France. In The Quantum and the Lotus, co-authored with French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, Professor Thuan explores the many remarkable connections between the ancient teachings of Buddhism and the findings of modern science. Also a best-seller in France, it has been translated in 10 languages. In his latest book Origins, he recounts the story of the emergence of life and consciousness in the universe. He has lectured all over the world to present to the public the complex and subtle view of a scientist on the workings of nature and the profound changes in worldviews brought about by modern scientific discoveries.
Ştefan TRĂUŞAN-MATU
PhD is a Professor at the Computer Science Department of the "Politehnica" University of Bucharest, and senior researcher at the Romanian Academy Institute for Artificial Intelligence. He was a Fulbright scholar, participated in many international projects, authored or contributed to 20 books and more than 125 book papers and reports, has been invited professor in universities in US and Europe. His research interests are language understanding, dialogism, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and the religion-science dialog.
Veselka TRAJKOVSKA
She has been employed at the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory since 1977 and her field of interest comprises fundamental astrometry, galactic astronomy and history and epistemology of astronomy.