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THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCIENCE
AND RELIGION IN THE ORTHODOX WORLD
Bucharest, Romania, 25 - 27 September 2008
PARTICIPANTS
Stefan Afloroaei
PhD, Dean, Faculty of Philosophy, State Univ. "Al. I. Cuza" Iasi. Full
professor of Philosophical hermeneutics, Interpretation of cultural
fact, Metaphysics, Theories of interpretation, Paradigms of European
spirituality. Published lectures: Philosophical hermeneutics, in Vol.
Philosophy, coordinated by Petru Bejan, 2005. Coordinated volumes: The
European idea in the post-war Romanian philosophy, (2005) Recent book:
The metaphysical role of the stranger (2003).
Evgenia Antonopoulou
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Astrophysics, Astronomy and
Mechanics, Faculty of Physics, National University of Athens,
Panepistimiopolis, Zographos, Athens, Greece. Degrees: B.Sc. in Physics,
Univ. of Athens, 1972, Ph.D. in Astronomy, Univ. of Edinburgh, U.K.,
1981.
Fr. Apollinary (A. G. Dubinin)
Born in 1949. Ph.D. (Chemestry). Prof. Mendeleev University of Chemical
Technology (Moscow). Old believer Orthodox Bishop of Kursk (2000).
Member of International Bioelectrochemical Society (1988); Member of
New-York Academy of Sciences (1997). Have more then 150 publications.
Took part in International Congresses and Conferences in Russia,
Hungary, USA, Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, Japan, Israel, France,
Belgian, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, China,
Czech Republic.
Mircea Bertea
Ph.D. – professor at the National Pedagogical College and "Babes-Bolyai"
University of Cluj. Vice-president of Cluj branch of the Association for
the Dialogue Between Science and Religion in Romania (ADSTR), member of
International Center for Transdisciplinary Studies and Research, Paris,
European Union expert in Education. More than 50 publications and
participations of national and international seminars and congresses and
15 volumes/books in the fields of languages, literature and education
(new didactics and transdisciplinarity) published in Romania and abroad.
Alexei Bodrov
PhD – Founder and Rector (President) of the St Andrew's Biblical
Theological Institute in Moscow, Russia. St Andrew's Institute, a state
accredited graduate institution develops academic and publishing
programs to promote theological education, science and religion
dialogue, and interconfessional/interfaith dialogue in Russia and CIS
countries. It is an independent institution, Orthodox in background and
ecumenical in character. He is editor of the quarterly "Pages: Theology,
Culture, Education" and the almanac "The World of the Bible". St
Andrew's is a leader in academic theological publishing in Russia and
one of its most popular series is "Science and Theology" which includes
the best books by leading scholars in the world. St Andrew's actively
cooperates with the John Templeton Foundation and several related
organizations in numerous academic and publishing programs. Dr. Bodrov
was a chairperson of the public ceremony of the Templeton Prize at the
Moscow Kremlin (Ian Barbour) on 17 May 1999 and a European Advisor to
the John Templeton Foundation in 2005-2007. He is also a member of the
Board of Advisors for the project "Science and Religion in Romania",
ESSSAT and the Distinguished Programme Development Committee of the
project "Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest", Rome.
Daniel Paul Buxhoeveden
He received an undergraduate degree in philosophy from the State
University of New York at Stony Brook, a PhD in biological anthropology
from the University of Chicago, and a JD from Loyola University. He was
a McDonnell-Pew fellowship recipient at the University of California,
San Diego, in cognitive science. His specialty is the micro-vertical
organization of the cortex and hominid brain evolution. He has been a
co-investigator on a number of federal and private grants regarding
schizophrenia, autism, and comparative anatomy of mammalian brains. He
is founder and director of the Religion and Science Initiative at the
University of South Carolina.
Mircea Florin Caracas
PhD. Engineer. Counselor – The Ministry of Education, Research and
Youth, Bucharest, Romania.
Florin Caragiu
B.1969; BSc, MSc, Mathematics (1993) University of Bucharest; Tempus
Fellowship in Mathematics, Dortmund University (1992-1993); Assistant
professor, "Politehnica" University of Bucharest (1995-2005); Master's
Student in Orthodox Theology – Doctrine and Culture, University of
Bucharest; secretary of the Bucharest pole ADSTR; Director of "Platytera"
Publishing House, Bucharest (from 2003). Author of the work: "Iconic
Anthropology" (2008, Sophia), and of several studies about science and
religion.
Fr. Ioan Chirila
Ph.D. – Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of "Babes-Bolyai"
University of Cluj. President of Cluj branch of the Association for the
Dialogue Between Science and Religion in Romania (ADSTR), correspondent
member of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity from the
Ratisbon Institute, Jerusalem, Israel; member of the National Commission
for Comparison Church History. Founder of five research centers within
the "Babes-Bolyai" University: Bioethics Center (Director), Biblical
Studies Center, Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Studies, Center
for the Study of Classical and Oriental Languages, Center for Compared
Theological and Historical Studies "Ioan Lupaş". Founder of the
Institute for Long-Life Learning for Clergy, Religion Teachers, Social
Workers and Promoters of Sacred Art. Twice a grantee of the Templeton
Foundation USA. Director of the research program (grant) "Bible and
multiculturality in Transylvania in the context of European exegesis in
the 16th-20th century." More than 250 publications and participations of
national and international seminars and congresses and 12 volumes/books
in the fields of Old Testament Exegesis, Theology and Archeology
published in Romania and abroad.
Dan Chitoiu
Assistant Professor, PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, State Univ. "Al. I.
Cuza" Iasi. Full professor of Byzantine Philosophy. Member of Society
for Eastern Studies at the Romanian Academy. Recent book: Reference
points in Byzantine (2003). Recent studies: "Ideology and hierarchy in
Byzantine period", "Nae Ionescu, an eastern philosopher", "Ontology and
person". Member in many national and international societies
Archbishop Chrysostomos
The Most Reverend Dr. Chrysostomos received his doctoral degree in
psychology at Princeton University and has taught at a number of
American and European universities. Former Executive Director of the
U.S. Fulbright Commission in Romania, he is the author of fifteen
popular books and numerous volumes of Patristic translations.
Valetin Cioveie
Born 1969, in Bucharest, Romania. Studies of Chemistry and Physics (no
degree) and of Philosophy (University of Bucharest). PhD in Philosophy:
'The Search of the Graal. Space and Time Concepts in the Contemporary
Physics' (Bucharest University). At the present PhD student in History
of Religion and Orthodox Theology at Ludwig-Maximilian Universität
Munich on the subject-matter of apophatic anthropology.
Fr. Petre Comsa
Ph.D, senior lecturer with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in
Târgovişte, Romania. Currently serves as a priest at The Saint
Elijah-Grant Church in Bucharest. Graduated both the Faculty of
Chemistry in Bucharest (1974 – 1979) and the Faculty of Orthodox
Theology, University of Bucharest (1990 – 1994). Authored 4 books in the
field of theology and more than 35 studies and articles published in
different specialized journals and magazines.
Ioana Costa
Professor at the University of Bucharest, Department of Classical
Philology (since 1990); MA in Classical Philology (1982), PhD in
Indo-European Linguistics (1996). Books: Fonetica istorica latina (Latin
Historical Phonetics), Bucharest, 2003; Neflexibile indo-europene
(Indo-European Inflexibilia), Bucharest, 1999; three major projects of
translation and editing: Plinius, Naturalis historia, Polirom, 6 vol.:
2001-4; Seneca, Opera philosophica, Polirom, 6 vol.: 1999-2008;
Septuaginta, Polirom-NEC, 8 vol.: 2004
http://www.unibuc.ro/ro/cd_ioanacosta_ro
Nicolae Dabija
(B. 1948), writer, historian of literature and politician from the
Republic of Moldova, a honorary member of the Romanian Academy since
2003. As chief editor of the weekly magazine Literatura si Arta issued
by the Writers' Union from the Republic of Moldova he took an important
part in the struggle for national renaissance within the republic. In
1988-1989 the weekly magazine led by Dabija was the most important
publication which sustained the return of the "moldavian language" to
the Latin writing, the acknowledgement of the identity between the
moldavian language and Romanian one and the proclaiming of the latter as
an official language in the SSR of Moldavia. In its glorious times, the
weekly magazine Literatura si Arta was crossing the issue border of
150,000 copies. Nowadays, the same weekly magazine is forced to call for
sponsors in order to survive.
Milan S. Dimitrijevic
He is an astronomer. 1994 – 2002: director of Belgrade Astronomical
Observatory; 1987 – 2002: editor in chief of Serbian Astronomical
Journal; 1982 – 2005 president of the Astronomical Society "Rudjer
Boškovic", co-president of the Working group on line broadening of the
IAU Commission 14 for Atomic and Molecular data, now at Belgrade
Astronomical Observatory. Scientific interest include influence of
collisions with charged particles on stellar spectral line shapes,
collisional processes and chemical reactions in stellar atmospheres,
astrophysical spectra, history of astronomy, astronomy in culture and
popularization and education of astronomy.
Fr. John Lincoln Downie
B. 1971, Beaverfalls, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He studied at Geneva College,
the Faculty of Philosophy and Biology (1989-1992); after he became
Orthodox, he lived in the Holy Mountain of Athos, Cutlumus Monastery
(1999-2001). BSc, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Bucharest University
(2006). He is Master's Student in Orthodox Theology - Biblical Theology,
University of Bucharest (2006).
Liviu Drugus
Economist by academic degree, researcher by vocation, university
professor by profession and transmodern/transdisciplinary thinker by
belief. Author of the EMMY (End Means Methodology) created in the 80s
and launched at international level in 1990. Active member of CIRET
(Centre International pour Recherches et Etudes Transdiciplinaires,
Paris, since 2006), ISINI (International Society of Intercommunication
of New Ideas, located at Boston, USA, being a founding member from 1990,
and elected as its president for 2005-2007), CEEMAN (Central and East
European Management Association, Bled, Slovenia), ISSEI (International
Society for the Study of European Ideas, Haifa, Israel), etc. Professor
and Head of the Management and Public Administration Department at
“George Bacovia” University since 2004. Highly preoccupied with the
integration of socio-humane disciplines, of natural and social sciences,
and of scientific knowledge with philosophy and religion.
Victor Eugen Gelan
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, member of the "Constantin
Noica" Philosophical Studies Association; member of the Phenomenological
Centre affiliated to the Department of Philosophy of the University of
Bucharest.
Marina Gigolashvili
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Abastumani Astrophysical
Observatory. PhD., Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and
Radiowaves Propagation, Moscow. Doctor of Science, Georgian National
Astrophysical Observatory, Tbilisi, Georgia. Area of Expertise:
Astronomy / Astrophysics, Solar Physics, Solar-Terrestrial Connection,
Environmental Monitoring, Near-Earth Cosmic Space, Popularization and
History of the Sciences. Membership: International Academy of Science,
Innsbruck, Austria; Scientific Expert of International Journal
"Astrophysical Journal"; Editorial board of the Transactions of the
International Academy of Science H&E "Science without Borders". Georgian
National Presentation of the International Heliosphysical Year (IHY);
Georgian National Presentation of the International Heliosphysical Year
(IHY) of the Balkan and Black Sea Region; Georgian National Presentation
of the Joint Organization for Solar Observations (JOSO).
Fr. Razvan Andrei Ionescu
Parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Parish "Sainte Paraskiva - Sainte
Geneviève", Paris, France. Technical studies: Industrial Electronics
Engineer, Master of Medical Engineering, Doctor of Medical Imagistics.
Theological studies: License and Master of Orthodox theology.
Fr. Stefan Iloaie
Ph. D - reverend, lecturer for Christian Moral Theology, scientific
secretary of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Cluj-Napoca; member and
secretary of Bioethics Commission of Orthodox Archbishopric Cluj;
executive secretary of Bioethics Center of Babes-Bolyai University
Cluj-Napoca; more than 30 publications; 50 participations of national
and international seminars and congresses; member of Cluj branch of the
Association for the Dialogue Between Science and Religion in Romania (ADSTR).
HE Metroplitan Iosif
His Eminence Joseph (Pop), Archbishop and Metropolitan of Western and
Southern Europe, headquartered in Paris, France. He is PhT of the
Institute for Orthodox Theology Saint-Serge from Paris.
Fr. Gheorghe Istodor
Missionary priest of "Philantropia" Hospital Bucharest: PhD in Orthodox
Theology, university lecturer in "Systematic and Biblical" section,
Faculty cf. Theology, University "Ovidius", Constanta. Coworker at
Romania Patriarchate and Bucharest Archiepiscopate on mission and
sectary Church problems. Cofounder of Centre for missionary and
ecumenical studies. Publications: 4 books, 25 papers.
Christopher C. Knight
He was received into the Orthodox Church in 2002. He has been teaching
on the dialogue between science and theology for several Cambridge
colleges for many years, and is at present employed as Executive
Secretary of the International Society for Science and Religion, based
at St. Edmund's College, Cambridge.
Jean Kovalevsky
Former student of the "École Normale Supérieure". Astronomer, he first
worked in the field of Celestial Mechanics. Then he created the
Calculation and Celestial Mechanics' Service within the Longitudes'
Office. Due to his works, upon the applications of Celestial Mechanics
on the movements of artificial satellites, he created the Research Group
in space Geodesy (CRGS) and the Center for Studies and Research in
Geodynamics in Astronomy (CERGA). He was their first director. He was
the coach of one of the consortia focused on reducing the data of the
Hiparcos program in space astrometry. He is a member of the Science
Academy in France and also was, from 1997-2004 the president of the
Weight and Measures Committee.
Adrian Lemeni
Lecturer in the Dogmatics and Fundamental Theology at the Faculty of the
Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest. PhD in the Orthodox Theology
and post-doctoral studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris.
Publications: The Orthodox Theology and Science (written with Pr. Razvan
Ionescu, 2007-second edition; 2006), The Eschatological Sense of
Creation (2007-second edition; 2003), Science and Religion (2001,
co-author), studies in different volumes and reviews. Involved in the
theology-science research.
Sebastian Mateiescu
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest. Domains of interest:
Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Philosophy of Science,
Metaphysics, The relation Science-Religion. Publications: (1) Unity and
Plurality, in "Sora. Sinteze", Paralela 45, Pitesti, 2006; (2) )
Searching for a scientific programme which can accommodate to theology,
in B. Nicolescu, M. Stavinschi (ed.), Transdisciplinary Approaches of
the Dialogue between Science, Art and Religion in the Europe of
Tomorrow, Bucharest, Curtea Veche Publishing House. Works in Progress:
The Contemplation of Nature and Natural Contemplation.
Sorin Mihalache
B. Math. (1998), B. Theol. (2002), M.A. in Psychology (2001), M Phil.
(2003), M. Phys.(2005), PhD student in Phil. State Univ. "Al. I. Cuza"
Iasi. Assist. Prof. at Faculty of Orthodox Theology Iasi, Member of
ESSSAT, Secretary at Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research on
Religion and Science, State Univ. of Iasi, President for ADSTR Branch of
Iasi. Future Book: The Rationality of Creation and Scientific Knowledge
of the Universe (Basilica, 2008).
Radu Moraru
Sculptor, professor PhD., dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University
of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca. Organizer and participant in numerous
national and international art exhibitions: Romania, Italy, Holland,
Greece, Austria. Member of UAPR and of ADSTR, Cluj branch.
Costea Munteanu
Ph.D, he is full-professor with the Academy of Economic Studies in
Bucharest, Romania. Currently teaches International Financial Management
and Psychological Economics at the Faculty of International Economics
and Business. Graduated the Faculty of Foreign Trade, Academy of
Economic Studies in Bucharest. Author and co-author of 16 books and
monographs in different fields of economics, more than 80 articles, and
almost 55 papers presented to a number of local and international
conferences and seminars.
Alexei V. Nesteruk
Dr. Alexei Nesteruk is a lecturer and researcher at the University of
Portsmouth (UK) and a visiting professor of St. Andrew's Biblical
Theological College in Moscow. His research interests are in the field
of the dialogue between Orthodox theology with contemporary science, as
well as in phenomenology of cosmology. He is the author of two
monographs and 85 papers in mathematical physics, philosophy of science,
and science and theology.
Basarab Nicolescu
Theoretical physicist at the Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France. Professor at the Babes-Bolyai
University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Member of the Romanian Academy.
Founding member of ISSR. President-Founder of the International Center
for Transdisciplinary Research and Studies (CIRET), a non-profit
organization (165 members from 26 countries), which has a web site at:
http://nicol.club.fr/ciret/. Founder and Director of the
Transdisciplinarity Series, Rocher Editions, Monaco, of the Romanians in
Paris Series, Oxus Editions, Paris and of the Science and Religion
Series, Curtea Veche, Bucharest (in collaboration with Magda Stavinschi).
A specialist in the theory of elementary particles, Basarab Nicolescu is
the author of 130 articles in leading international scientific journals,
has made numerous contributions to science anthologies and participated
in several dozens French radio and multimedia documentaries on science.
Basarab Nicolescu is a major advocate of the transdisciplinary
reconciliation between Science and the Humanities. He published many
articles on the role of science in the contemporary culture in journals
in USA, France, Romania, Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina and
Japan. 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. He edited recently Transdisciplinarity - Theory and Practice,
Hampton Press, Cresskill, New Jersey, 2008. A complete biobibliography
of Basarab Nicolescu can be found on the page http://nicol.club.fr/ciret/Notice/BNTitre.html
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.
Alexander Omarchevski
Associate Professor, Dr. in General Church History. Vice-Dean of the
Faculty of Theology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Scientific
Secretary of the Specialized Scientific Council in Theology. Secretary
of the Theological Commission at the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian
Orthodox Church. Member of the Ethical Commission of the Union of
Scientists in Bulgaria
D. A. Pahom
Born in 1978. Scientific interests: philology, theology.
Fr. Patapios
Hieromonk Dr. Patapios, Academic Director of the Center for
Traditionalist Orthodox Studies in Etna, California, U.S.A. Father
Patapios, a native of Great Britain, is a Cambridge University honors
graduate and received his doctoral degree in Patristic at the Graduate
Theological Union, Berkeley.
Ilya Petrov
He is an actual lecturer in the department of theoretical physics,
Faculty of Physics, Sofia University. He is a owner of the Heron Press
Publishing House and he published the Bulgarian Journal of Physics.
Ioan Pop
Professor of Information and Communication Science, Ecoenergetics (Ecophysics)
at Emmanuel University of Oradea, Department of Management. He was born
in Romania, Salaj district. He achieved his Ph.D. in Physics at Babes-Bolyai
University in Cluj, Romania. He is currently enrolled in a second
doctorate program in Mechatronics at the Technical University in Cluj,
His research interests include magnetism, semiophysics, ecophysics and
the science-religion dialogue.
Eleni Rovithis-Livaniou
Assoc. Prof. Department of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics,
Faculty of Physics, National University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis,
Zographos, Athens, Greece.
Magda Stavinschi
Astronomer, former director of the Astronomical Institute of the
Romanian Academy (1990-2005). President of the Association for the
Dialogue between Science and Theology in Romania – ADSTR and of the
Institute for the Advanced Studies for Science and Orthodoxy - IASSO.
Director of the John Templeton Foundation Program "Science and
Orthodoxy: Research and Education". President of the international
Commission "Astronomy Education and Development" (2009-2012). Chair of
the international working group "Astronomy and cultural heritage".
Member CIRET (International Center for Transdisciplinary Research).
Special Recognition Award: "Global Perspectives on Science and
Spirituality: A Program of the Université Interdisciplinaire de Paris
and Elon University" (2005). Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite,
France. Coordinator with. Basarab Nicolescu of the new Series "Science
and Religion", Curtea Veche Publishing House.
Fr. Gregory Telepneff
The Father Dr. Gregory Telepneff is at present a Visiting Scholar at the
Harvard Divinity School, a Senior Scholar at the Center for
Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, and a member of the adjunct faculty at
Anna Maria College, where he teaches religion and ethics. He is a
graduate of Yale University and received his doctoral degree in
Patristics at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley.
Efstratios Theodossiou
Dr. Efstratios Theodossiou, Associate Professor of History and
Philosophy of Astronomy and Physics Science at the University of Athens,
is interesting on observational astronomy, satellite spectrophotometry
of Be stars and history and philosophy of Astronomy. He has published
more than 150 scientific papers in international journals and
proceedings of conferences, 300 articles in Greek journals, and 15 books
on history and philosophy of astronomy and physics.
Stefan Trausan-Matu
PhD is a full 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 150 book papers and reports. He 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.
Nikos Tsiopinis
He was the Outreach Coordinator of the Metanexus Global Network
Initiative of the Metanexus Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He
will defend an interdisciplinary PhD thesis in Mathematics and Theology
at the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Previously he
earned a Diploma in Solid State Physics from the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, Greece, and a Master of Science degree in Polymer Physics
from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Tsiopinis has
lectured and published in both polymer physics and in the
transdisciplinary domain of Science and Religion. He moved to the United
States in 2005 where he joined the Leadership Program of the
International House New York and acquired experience in intercultural
leadership and cross-cultural communication. He is married to Dr.
Jenelle Nissley-Tsiopinis.
Milcho Tsvetkov
Assoc Prof. Dr Milcho Tsvetkov is a Senior Research Associate at the
Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He is a principal
investigator of several international projects as the head of the Sofia
Sky Archive Data Center of the Institute of Astronomy. His scientific
interests are especially in the preservation and storage of the world
wide-field photographic plate archives as an unique nationals and world
heritages. The history of astronomy and poetry are among his interests.
At present M. Tsvetkov serve the European Astronomical Society as a
councilor.
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