Science Considered in Ethical, Religious Framework

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) established the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. Objectives of DoSER are to contribute to scientific understanding in religious communities and promote multidisciplinary education and scholarship of the ethical and religious implications of advancements in science and technology. (For more information on efforts to engage the public in discussions about scientific progress, see ”Science Can't Thrive in Ivory Tower”).

“Questions of meaning and religion emerge from our deepening understanding of the natural order,” states the AAAS Web site, describing the program. “Issues of value and meaning are grounded in the disciplines of ethics and religion. The scientific community needs to be in dialogue with both fields in order to understand the cultural context within which science operates and to respond to the societal issues opened up by scientific discovery and technological development.”

DoSER activities have included conferences and public forums, working groups, and research seminars. According to the AAAS, these are among the seminars the program has sponsored: