Welcome
A series of 12 public lectures by eminent national and international speakers was held at the University of St Andrews over a 4-year period between Dec 2007 and June 2011 on a wide range of contemporary issues in Science and Religion. Details of the lectures, including copies of them and photographs to the events can be found in the list to the right.
The basic aim was to encourage constructive and open dialogue and an exchange of ideas on many intriguing points of contact between Science and Religion. With a rise of unhealthy fundamentalism, it was felt there was a need to increase understanding, so that we may be better informed about the nature of the scientific enterprise and of religious thought. Both Science and Religion have key insights about our human nature, our creativity and our possible future.
The lectures derive their name from James Gregory, one of the most famous scientists to work at St Andrews. He was the first regius professor of mathematics in the University (in the 17th century), where, together with Newton and Leibniz, he helped found a major branch of mathematics called calculus and also invented one of the two main types of telescope, called the gregorian telescope.
The lectures were supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Eric Priest and Alan Torrance and are sponsored by the Scotsman newspaper. The above photograph was taken by Gerald Priest near midsummer's day.
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