About Us

CVDSR is a group of academics, clergy, medical, and education professionals organized to initiate and facilitate productive, rigorous and broad-based discussion of science and religion in the Chippewa Valley area of Western Wisconsin. The group is diverse in terms of expertise and personal religious commitments, which makes for fruitful dialogue. Members include academics from Religious Studies, Philosophy, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, as well as non-specialist community members like clergy and secondary education professionals.

The Society works to overcome the currently polarized atmosphere surrounding various science-religion issues, and foster in its place respectful and informed dialogue. Our work engages local faculty, students, medical professionals, educators, church leaders, and the general public in discussion of three areas which hold monumental social and spiritual importance: (i) Biology and the Soul; (ii) Spirituality and Modern Medicine; (iii) The Meaning of Nature. CVDSR emphasizes outreach to the Chippewa Valley community, especially local centers of faith, schools, civic groups, and hospitals in order to broaden the conversation and enhance courteous engagement of diverse faith traditions and views on science. While we are primarily interested in encouraging exploration that leads to new research, we also hope to stimulate greater appreciation of the religious and spiritual implications of scientific discoveries.

Contact Us

You can reach us by email at cvdsr@uwec.edu