Center for the Study of Science and Human Spirituality

Center for the Study of Science and Human Spirituality

Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Wuhan, Hubei

The founding members of this center plan to “promote integrated thinking by overcoming the split between science and spirituality among both intellectuals and the general public by encouraging dialogue between physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers and professors in the social sciences and humanities.” They plan to serve as a source of intellectual leadership in showing “how it is possible to overcome both modern scientism and the spiritual chauvinism of traditional Chinese thought.” An additional aim is to promote collaborative research between these traditionally divergent fields. Activities and plans include the publication of a national journal, a quarterly newsletter, and research monographs; translation into English of contemporary Chinese texts exploring science and faith; and offering interdisciplinary courses, seminars and guest lectures aimed at scholars, students, and the general public. Additional goals include the ability to participate in national policy-making through increasing the prestige of the Center as an important research center and the ability to serve and to provide feedback and critical information to society at large regarding issues in science and faith. A national/international level conference brings together scholars from a variety of perspectives to foster the credibility of the dialogue from Chinese perspectives and shares this perspective with members from other cultures. The Center also supports a scholarship program to promote research, work of PhD candidates, course development in other institutions, essay competitions, and publication.