Bringing Forefront Science to Religion Reporters

This one-year project is proposed by the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) to provide a high level of science-focused professional enrichment for religion reporters. Religious communities comprise a large fraction of the U.S. population, and scientific advances produce both excitement and concerns within these communities. The nation’s religion reporters are often tasked with interpreting these discoveries, but may lack the technical proficiency in science and technology to do so effectively. This initiative builds upon DoSER’s successful pilot project, which exceeded our expectations and proved that providing opportunities for religion reporters to immerse in the world of science is both sustainable and valuable. The project will include two primary activities and will seek to develop science resources for religion reporters. First, DoSER proposes sponsoring a program at the annual Religion Newswriters Association conference to highlight current topics in science and technology. This program will tap into momentum from our preconference science program, the first ever in RNA’s history to focus on science, which was attended by more than 60 religion reporters and hosted in conjunction with the 2015 annual meeting. Second, DoSER will administer a contest that invites up to four influential religion reporters to attend the 2017 AAAS Annual Meeting, where they will gain access to forefront science achievements. Because AAAS is the largest international scientific organization, this event features a plethora of world-renowned speakers and interesting symposia covering the interface of many branches of science with society. Together these events will benefit the participants, promote the mission of AAAS to advance science and serve society, and support the vision of the John Templeton Foundation to seek ways to deepen understanding of the world around us.