Biology, Psychology and Spirituality

Annual Symposium at cross-faculty Centre for Science and Faith.

Welcome to CVT’s symposium exploring human health and flourishing from the perspectives of evolutionary biology, psychology and spirituality. We invite researchers, students and the public to take part in conversations on how our lives are shaped both by what we know, and by what lies beyond scientific knowledge. Humans understand life through scientific knowledge, but also through faith commitments – whether secular-existential, spiritual or religious. Science and faith are sometimes seen as antagonistic. Yet can they also be seen as complementary or even synergistic sources of hope and meaning?

Programme

08.45-09.00 Coffee and refreshments
09.00-09.15 Per Sangild, Niels Henrik Gregersen, Profs., University of Copenhagen, DK: 
Welcome and introduction to Centre for Science and Faith (CVT), UCPH

09.15-09.45 Benjamin Doolittle, Professor, Yale University, USA: 
Human Flourishing: New directions in a crispy, jaded world
09.45-10.15 Fraser Watts, Professor, Cambridge University, UK:
Spirituality and Health: Perspectives from Psychology and Theology
Break
10.40-11.10 Heidi Frølund, Ass. Prof., Aarhus University, DK:
When Meaning Heals – and Harms: Belief, Embodiment, and Sensemaking in Illness and Crisis
11.10-11.40 Brandon Vaidyanathan, Professor, The Catholic University of America, USA:
Beauty, spirituality, and vocation among natural scientists: Evidence from four countries

11.40-12.15 Panel discussion (Tobias Stripp, CVT): Science and Faith in Psychology?
12.15-13.00 Lunch break
13.00-13.30 Niels Arbøl, Biologist and author, DK: 
Biology and Spirituality: Dobzhansky and Conway Morris
13.30-14.00 Niels Henrik Gregersen, Professor, University of Copenhagen, DK:
Evolution, niche-construction and home-making

Break
14.15-14.45 Tessie McGuire, Postdoc, University of Copenhagen, DK: 
Birth, newborns and breastfeeding – biology and spirituality of first human existence?
14.45-15.15 Eva Meier Carlsen / Emil Børty Nielsen, Postdocs, Univ. of Copenhagen, DK: 
Best Friend and/or Instrument? Spirituality in Human-Animal Relationships
15.15-15.50 Panel discussion (Per Sangild, CVT): Science and Faith in Biology and Nature?
15.50-16.00 Niels Henrik Gregersen, Per Sangild, Johan Fynbo, CVT: Concluding remarks

 

 

Registration 

Please register for the symposium no later than 21 August 2026.

We would like you to indicate if you would like a lunch sandwich  and cake or not and if you plan physical presence or online participation.

A link for online participation will be sent at a later point.

Contact and questions

If you have any questions or special dietary requirements please contact ebn@teol.ku.dk.