European Society for the Study of Science and Theology

European Society for the Study of Science and Theology
Name	European Society for the Study of Science and Theology
Abbreviation	ESSTS
Formation	1982
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Leiden
Region served	Europe
Leader title	President

Contents

European Society for the Study of Science and Theology The European Society for the Study of Science and Theology is a learned society dedicated to interdisciplinary study at the intersection of Science and religion, promoting dialogue among scholars from disciplines such as Physics, Biology, Philosophy of religion, and Theology. The society convenes scholars linked to institutions including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and Leiden University, and engages with international organizations like the Pontifical Gregorian University, Max Planck Society, Royal Society, and European Research Council.

History

Founded in 1982 amid European debates following conferences at University of Cambridge, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Sorbonne University, the society emerged alongside movements represented by figures at Institut Catholique de Paris, University of Heidelberg, and Humboldt University of Berlin. Early meetings featured contributors affiliated with Pope John Paul II's dialogues, scholars associated with Alfred North Whitehead, advocates of the New Science and Religion discussions, and participants from seminars at Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Over successive decades the society organized symposia that intersected with work at the World Council of Churches, European Council of Churches, Vatican Observatory, and networks connected to the Wellcome Trust and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

The society's mission aligns with objectives articulated in declarations from meetings at Zürich, Brussels, and Rome: to foster interdisciplinary research linking Physics and Metaphysics, Molecular Biology and Ethics Committee discussions, and to encourage exchange among scholars from University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, and University of Warsaw. Objectives emphasize convening conferences like those held in collaboration with European University Institute, promoting publications associated with Cambridge University Press and Brill Publishers, and supporting doctoral networks similar to programs at Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Horizon Europe.

The society is governed by an elected council including officers drawn from academic centers such as University of St Andrews, KU Leuven, University of Vienna, and Charles University. Leadership rotates through presidencies that have historically included scholars affiliated with University of Durham, University of Münster, University of Tübingen, and University of Groningen. Committees coordinate programming related to ethics alongside representatives from European Commission panels, grant reviews akin to National Science Foundation processes, and liaison roles with institutions such as the Pontifical Council for Culture and research units in the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science.

Regular biennial conferences occur in cities including Leiden, Berlin, Lisbon, Warsaw, and Edinburgh, often co-hosted with universities like University of Oxford and cultural centers such as British Museum. The society has organized special sessions tied to anniversaries of figures like Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Niels Bohr, and Blaise Pascal, and thematic panels on topics related to work at Royal Society of London symposia, workshops connected to Sackler Conference programs, and collaborative events with European Forum Alpbach and the Nobel Foundation. It also sponsors doctoral symposia and summer schools modeled after programs at Institut d'études avancées de Paris and Scuola Normale Superiore.

The society co-sponsors peer-reviewed outlets and edited volumes with publishers such as Routledge, Oxford University Press, and Springer Nature, producing special issues that feature contributors from Stanford University, Yale University, Columbia University, and University of Toronto. Research themes reflect intersections evident in works by scholars from University of Notre Dame, Regent College, King's College London, and Princeton University, addressing topics that overlap with reports produced by UNESCO and grant-funded projects associated with European Research Council awards. Proceedings and monographs have appeared in series aligned with Ashgate Publishing and Brill, and the society maintains an online archive with abstracts contributed by institutes such as Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine and centers at King's College London.

Membership comprises academics from departments at University of Oxford, Sorbonne University, University of Copenhagen, and theological faculties at Pontifical Gregorian University, University of Münster Faculty of Theology, and Luther Seminary. Affiliations extend to scholarly networks including International Society for Science and Religion, American Academy of Religion, European Association for the Study of Religions, and research consortia with Max Planck Society units, enabling cross-membership with entities like British Academy, Academy of Athens, and national academies such as the Royal Irish Academy. The society collaborates with funding bodies like Horizon 2020 and scholarly presses tied to Cambridge University Press and maintains ties with ecumenical councils such as the World Council of Churches.