Each August, St Paul’s Cathedral engages with National Science Week and runs several activities that explore the chosen theme from the perspective of the science-religion interface.
In an increasingly global and secular scientific culture, saturated with technology and the market, the science-faith conversation is at the cutting edge of Christian engagement. Our purpose is to help equip Christians for that engagement.
National Science Week 2021: Hope for a Planet in Crisis with Tony Rinaudo
How do you reforest millions of hectares of African desert without planting a single tree? Find out from Tony Rinaudo, the missionary agronomist who did it.
At this year’s ‘Science Week at the Cathedral’ event, Tony shared his extraordinary story of pioneering Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), a land-management technique which now offers great hope for climate change.
Talk begins at: 4:13
Q&A time begins at: 39:38
Science Week at the Cathedral (SWAC) is a partnership between St Paul’s and ISCAST – Christians in Science and Technology.
Resources for Parishes
Parishes can also engage in Science Week (before, during, or after) using a Messy Church Module and a Study Group Module
From Famine to Fertility (Audio Visual):
https://carey.instructuremedia.com/embed/099304bc-d13f-4d4a-927d-478b11af9de7.
This is an excellent audiovisual presentation (27min) prepared for Science Week by Rev Scott Bramley, the Middle School Chaplain, at Carey Baptist Grammar School. Scott casts the Science Week 2021 theme Food by Design in terms of the work William Carey in the 18th century, and the work in our time of agronomist Tony Rinaudo and of scientist and food producer Jim Fuller. This is worth viewing by individuals and by a discussion group. It is an illuminating example of the faith and science conversation.
Previous Years Themes & Resources
The theme for National Science Week 2020 was Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans. Science Week at the Cathedral resources for this topic are available here
The theme for National Science Week 2019 was Destination Moon: more missions, more science. Science Week at the Cathedral resources for this topic are available here.
The 2018 theme was Game Changers and Change Makers. Below, you can read how St Paul’s Cathedral and parishes around the Diocese of Melbourne engaged with this theme: