From biotechnology to global climate change to homeland security, the number of issues at the juncture of science, technology and values continues to grow rapidly.
As a contribution to the humanistic understanding of these issues, the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values at the University of Notre Dame has established a new online journal called “Reilly Center Reports.”
Each volume of the journal will address emerging ethics and policy issues related to developments in science and technology. The new publication is aimed at the media, policymakers, educators, religious leaders and others with an interest in the field.
The inaugural issue of Reilly Center Reports examines the issue of evolution and intelligent design. The publication features articles that are less technical than a scholarly article, but more substantive than an op-ed piece.
Articles in the initial issue, authored by both Notre Dame faculty and a variety of other thinkers, include: “Catholic Faith and Evolution: Has Anything Changed?”; “Creation, Evolution, and the Catholic Tradition”; “Science Does Not Need God. Or Does It?”; “American Jews and Intelligent Design”; “Intelligent Design: Any Wrinkles in This Old Idea?”; “Where’s the Intelligence in Intelligent Design?”; and “Intelligent Design and Evolution: Some Clarifications.”
The Reilly Center was established in 1985 and is named for the father of an alumnus whose gift created the initial endowment for the center. Through conferences and publications emphasizing the complementary roles of scientific, technological, ethical and humanistic perspectives, the center seeks to highlight scholarship reflecting the interplay of these viewpoints and to stimulate broad public discussion of critical issues.
Gerald McKenny, associate professor of Christian ethics, is director of the center, and a group of elected faculty fellows is responsible for operational insight of the center’s programs.
The inaugural issue of Reilly Center Reports can be viewed at http://reillyreports.nd.edu .
Contact: Gerald McKenny, director, Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values, 574-631-4520, mckenny.4@nd.edu
Originally published by at newsinfo.nd.edu on May 13, 2008.