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ISCAST is a network of people, from students to distinguished academics,
exploring the interface of science, technology, and Christian faith.
The patron of ISCAST is Professor Graeme Clark AC FAA FRS, bionic ear pioneer.

  • Out Now: "I want to fix ears"

    ISCAST Patron, Graeme Clark, publishes his inspiring first-hand account of the bionic ear invention....

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  • The ISCAST 2020 Conversations

    ISCAST 2020 Conversations: Now online!

    All the fascinating series of conversations are now on YouTube

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  • Free book for new ISCAST members

    Join ISCAST now as a new member and receive this book in the mail as a welcome gift.

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  • Sign up for over 50 COSAC 2020 talks

    It's not too late to hear all the COSAC talks. Check the website for details.

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  • The ISCAST book library in East Melbourne

    The ISCAST public library

    The ISCAST public book library is in East Melbourne. ISCAST members have borrowing rights.
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  • Review of Adam and the Genome: Reading...

    Looking for a good book? Check out our reviews!
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  • Putting a reckless God under the microscope...

    New ISCAST book featured in 'Eternity'
    Read more

In an increasingly global and secular scientific culture, the science-faith conversation is at the cutting edge of Christian engagement. ISCAST engages Australians in this conversation, calling people to take the message of Jesus seriously.

Before analysing the relationship between these two notions, faith and science did not really align in my mind. They seemed too distant, almost like polar opposites, however my understanding of this has definitely changed. Even though there are distinct differences—science asking how things are created whereas religion asking why—the correlation is complementary.
A year-10 student after an ISCAST school seminar

I used to think that science and faith could not exist in the same world. Now I think that it is all a matter of perspective, because faith and science can co-exist.
Year-9 student at an ISCAST school seminar

Questions of faith and science are of great importance for people of all ages, and they are being extremely well addressed by ISCAST.
ISCAST patron, Professor Graeme Clark AC FAA FRS, bionic ear pioneer

Science and faith is a key issue ... ISCAST addresses the complexity of this important question in ways young people can handle. Thank you.
Rev. Philippa Lohmeyer-Collins, Chaplain and Religion and Values Teacher, Mentone Girls’ Grammar

Thinking seriously about science is important for all of life but especially important for those thinking about the bigger questions of our existence. No organisation in Australia does it better than ISCAST.
Dr John Dickson, founding director, Centre for Public Christianity

It was fantastic to have ISCAST present to our Year 10s. The talk encouraged students and staff to think deeply across a variety of themes and topics. I highly recommend ISCAST for presenting on faith and science in any school setting.
Rev. Nick Curtis, Director of Christian Ministries, PLC, Melbourne

Creation's wonders draw me to worship of the Creator and curiosity about the created order. ISCAST stimulates and nurtures my curiosity and hence my worship: ‘faith seeks understanding’. I commend the strategic mission of ISCAST and urge support for its resourcing of science and Christian faith.
Bishop John Harrower OAM

ISCAST has provided me the opportunity to think deeply about current and future developments in science and technology from a biblical and personal faith perspective. The opportunity to engage with Christians from a range of academic, practitioner and study backgrounds has encouraged and challenged me. ISCAST is such an excellent platform for meaningful conversation on these subjects with God at the centre, helping to strengthen my faith and providing a deeper sense of community.
Carl Michael, superannuation industry Chief Technology Officer

 

Featured News

The ISCAST—NZCIS 2021 Conversations

Join us from April 22 as we converse live with local and international speakers. This new series of conversations is a collaboration between our friends across the Tasman, New Zealand Christians in Science (NZCIS), and ISCAST in Australia.

Strange Bedfellows? Orthodox Theology and Science

ISCAST Fellow Doru Costache recently published the article described below. It is a developed version of a paper presented at ISCAST's Conference on Science and Christianity in 2020.

The paper can be found here.

Model embryos: Praising heroes, damning villains, or thoughtful conversation? Reflections on iBlastoids and the discourse of science, ethics and religion

ISCAST Fellow Andrew Sloane comments on the recent development of "model human embryos."

Biotechnology has made remarkable advances in the last few decades. It has also raised ever-more-complex ethical questions. This is no more evident than in the recent announcement of the creation of "artificial embryos" (strictly, induced blastocyst-like structures,[1] or iBlastoids[2]).

View all featured articles

Latest News

The ISCAST—NZCIS 2021 Conversations
Thursday, 8 April 2021 - 12:49pm

Join us from April 22 as we converse live with local and international speakers. This new series of conversations is a collaboration between our friends across the Tasman, New Zealand Christians in Science (NZCIS), and ISCAST in Australia.

... Read more
April 10: Online tribute to John Polkinghorne, with Alister McGrath
Wednesday, 31 March 2021 - 9:12am

UPDATE: The recording of this past event can be found here: ...

Read more
Strange Bedfellows? Orthodox Theology and Science
Saturday, 27 March 2021 - 11:42pm

ISCAST Fellow Doru Costache recently published the article described below. It is a developed version of a paper presented at ISCAST's Conference on Science and Christianity in 2020.

The paper...

Read more
Model embryos: Praising heroes, damning villains, or thoughtful conversation? Reflections on iBlastoids and the discourse of science, ethics and religion
Monday, 22 March 2021 - 1:35pm

ISCAST Fellow Andrew Sloane comments on the recent development of "model human embryos."

Biotechnology has made remarkable advances in the last few decades. It has also raised ever-more-...

Read more
Vale John Polkinghorne: A tribute to the life and work of a true Christian scholar
Tuesday, 16 March 2021 - 7:37am

A shorter version of this article was published here at Eternity News. On 10 April 2021,...

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ISCAST is hiring
Sunday, 7 March 2021 - 6:59pm

Arising from our five-year Strategic Plan, ISCAST is keen to appoint two enthusiastic...

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Tom McLeish's Boyle Lecture
Wednesday, 27 January 2021 - 2:14pm

UPDATE: This event has passed, but you can watch it on YouTube here.

An invitation from ISCAST Distinguished Fellow, Tom McLeish...

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Review—The Faraday Papers
Thursday, 21 January 2021 - 6:14pm

Review of "The...

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ISCAST Fellow Mike Clarke on "Why preserve anything?"
Tuesday, 12 January 2021 - 8:58am

ISCAST fellow Mike Clarke recently featured on an episode of City Bible Forum's Big Questions show. The big question was: Why preserve anything? And, in particular, why should we be concerned with the impact of fire on fauna? Mike is a biologist...

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Christmas and Science: Reflections by John Long on Christmas, science, and Stanley Jaki
Friday, 18 December 2020 - 1:27pm
A reflection by ISCAST Associate John Long on Christmas, science, and the work of Stanley Jaki

(Photo: The author and Stanley Jaki in 1992.)

 

Review of "The Lost World of the Flood: Mythology, Theology and the Deluge Debate" by Longman and Walton
Thursday, 17 December 2020 - 11:06am

Review of The Lost World of the Flood: Mythology, Theology and the Deluge Debate by Tremper Longman III and John H Walton (with a contribution by Stephen O. Moshier).

Reveiwed by Loraine Holley

Science and Orthodoxy Around the World
Monday, 14 December 2020 - 7:59pm

News from ISCAST fellow Doru Costache about the "science and Orthodoxy" project and documentary.

Are We Slaves to our Genes? New book from ISCAST Distinguished Fellow Denis Alexander
Monday, 14 December 2020 - 11:46am

There is a common misconception that our genomes—all unique, except for those in identical twins—have the upper hand in controlling our destiny. The latest genetic discoveries, however, do not support that view. Although genetic variation does...

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Are scientists biased against Christians? Exploring real and perceived bias against Christians in academic biology
Monday, 23 November 2020 - 9:04am

In the US, 75% of people would identify themselves as Christians whereas only 30% of scientists would do the same. Why are Christians so poorly represented in science? Is there a bias against Christians in the American college system? The authors...

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Review of "The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry" by S. Joshua Swamidass
Thursday, 22 October 2020 - 1:38pm

The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry

S. Joshua Swamidass

IVP Academic, 2019

 

Reviewed by Stephen Collins, who is a fellow of ISCAST and a retired physics lecturer.

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Topics

  • Science & Christianity
  • Physical Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Environment & Resources
  • Technology & Computing
  • The Human Being
  • Creation & Evolution

Events

Feb 04
Tom McLeish's Boyle Lecture

UPDATE: This event has passed, but you can...

Apr 10
April 10: Online tribute to John Polkinghorne, with Alister McGrath

UPDATE: The recording of this past event can be found here: ...

View all

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAST EVENTS
http://iscast.org/past_events

Special offers: "SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY" BY CHRIS MULHERIN

Cover of "Science and Christianity"

ISCAST Executive Director Chris Mulherin has written an easy-to-read introduction to science and Christianity. Sign up as an ISCAST member to get a free copy. Or Garratt Publishing have a "buy 5 and get 1 free" deal here. You can find out more about the book here.

"Unlikely Allies" now available to order!

Cover of  "Unlikely Allies"

In Unlikely Allies: Monotheism and the Rise of Science, Mark Worthing investigates the claims of religious traditions that they played a unique role in the rise of the natural sciences. Click here to buy the book.

"A Reckless God?" Out Now!

Cover of "A Reckless God"

A Reckless God? Currents and Challenges in the Christian Conversation with Science, edited by ISCAST Executive Director Chris Mulherin, Roland Ashby, John Pilbrow and Stephen Ames, is the first in the "ISCAST Nexus" series. Click here to buy the book.

ISCAST public library

More books! ... available at the ISCAST book library in East Melbourne. See here.

  • ISCAST Distinguished Fellows
  • ISCAST Board and Executive
Alexander, Denis
Wiseman, Jennifer
Harrison, Peter
Clark, Graeme
Freeman, Ken
McLeish, Tom
View All ISCAST Fellows
Sonia Han
Mark Worthing
Seak-King Huang
Karen Hale
Peggy Kern
Roger Lewis
Stephen Collins
Lewis Jones
Jonathan Clarke
Chris Mulherin
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ISCAST is committed to engaging Australians in constructive conversation between Christian faith and the sciences. Many of its members are professional scientists, theologians, and philosophers, who have a commitment to the Christian faith.
 
We welcome receiving your feedback about this site at admin@ISCAST.org
 

About ISCAST

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  • History of ISCAST
  • ISCAST in brief
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WORTH PONDERING ...

Science can never be more than an affirmation of certain things we believe in. These beliefs must be adopted responsibly, with due consideration of the evidence and with a view to universal validity. But eventually they are ultimate commitments, issued under the seal of our personal judgment. At some point we shall find ourselves with no other answer to queries than to say “because I believe so.” That is what no set of rules, or any model of science based on a system of rules, can do; it cannot say “because I believe so.” Only a person can believe something, and only I myself can hold my own beliefs. For the holding of these I must bear the ultimate responsibility; it is futile, and I think also ignoble, to hunt for systems and machines which will take that burden from 35 me. And we, as a community, must also face the fact that there is no system of necessary rules which will relieve us from the responsibility of holding the constitutive beliefs of our group or of teaching them to the next generation and defending their continued profession against those who would suppress them.

Michael Polanyi, "Scientific Beliefs", Ethics, 61 (1) Oct. 1950, 27–37.
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