The Magi Project
F O R S C I E N C E & T H E O L O G Y
Physical science, which is ordered towards the exploration of the physical world, can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God, who is pure spirit. However, contemplation of the physical Universe can lead us to ask deeper questions about meaning and human existence as well as the origin and end of all that is.
Many believe that modern astrophysical discoveries undermine belief in God, if not exclude the possibility of God altogether. Others cling to a literal interpretation of Genesis and reject anything of modern science that seems antithetical to it. Somewhere in between is the via media, which embraces both physical and spiritual realities and which recognizes the distinct, proper contributions of theology and scientific study, as well as the limitations of both. We seek to build dialogue between science and faith, helping people of faith to grow in their understanding of science, and helping scientists to understand the perspective of people of faith.
The Magi Project delivers courses, lectures, seminars, and other outreach activities that explore the distinct but complementary approaches of science, philosophy, and theology to fundamental questions of the universe and our own place within it.
The LeMaître Grants
In honor of Georges LeMaître, the Catholic priest sometimes called the “Father of the Big Bang,” the Magi Project annually awards two grants of up to $3,500 to support undergraduate projects on science and religion, such as external speaker programs, workshops or short courses in science and religion, or undergraduate organized outreach.
Applications are closed for the 2024 grant cycle.
Click the button below to learn more.
Upcoming Events
Third Annual Magi Project Conference:
What is a Good Human Life?
Our third interdisciplinary Magi Conference will explore the question "What is a Good Human Life?" through the lenses of World, Self, Community, and God. The conference will be structured around a series of conversations between psychologists, philosophers, and theologians, who will examine the nature of human flourishing from diverse disciplinary perspectives and consider how the insights of each of these disciplines might contribute to work in the others.
The keynote address will be given by Kristján Kristjánsson, Professor of Character Education and Virtue Ethics at the University of Birmingham, and Deputy Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. He has written widely on themes in moral education, educational psychology, and moral philosophy and is the author of over 100 articles and several books, including Virtues and Vice in Positive Psychology (2015), Flourishing as the Aim of Education (2019), and most recently, Phronesis: Retrieving Practical Wisdom in Psychology, Philosophy, and Education (2024).
Date: Thursday, July 25, 3pm-Friday, July 26, 8pm
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Click the button below to learn more and to register.
New Publications
Released Summer 2023
Click the button below to access the proceedings from the 2022 Magi Project Conference, What is Life?, released July 2023.
Featured Past Events
Just Responsibility: Natural Intelligence in a world of A.I
Dr. Jennifer Herdt
This lecture, which served as the keynote lecture for Collegium Institute's second interdisciplinary summer Magi conference, "What is (Human) Life? Mind, Body, Soul, and Self," explores understandings of the human person that can equip us for life in a world in which our long-cherished cognitive superiority over other life-forms seems to have been eclipsed by new forms of intelligence neither constrained by body finitude nor conditioned by organic limits. Professor Herdt argues that reclaiming our animality can help correct rationalistic and individualistic conceptions of human agency, frame fuller understandings of what it is to be caring, responsible agents, and point the way forward to living well with our finite, natural forms of intelligence.
Click the button below to learn more and to view the recorded lecture.
What is (Human) Life?
Mind, Body, Soul, and Self
Join Collegium Institute for our 2nd annual Magi Conference, exploring our own humanity through the lenses of “Mind, Body, Soul, and Self,” on July 13 and 14.
God and the Multiverse:
A Magi Project Special Event and PRRUCS Perry-Collegium Initiative Event
Join Collegium Institute for this Magi Project conversation, “God and the Multiverse,” with Dr. Deborah Haarsma, Astronomer and President of BioLogos. on Thursday, April 13 at 7pm.
Click the button below to learn more and to register.
Modern Science & Catholic Faith
A St. Albert Initiative for Teachers and Students
Join Collegium Institute and the McGrath Institute for this St. Albert Initiative program on March 25 from 9am-3pm at St. Joe’s Preparatory. This half-day program on science and faith is for Catholic high school students, teachers, and parents as well as interested members of the general public (high school age and above). It will feature short talks by Catholic scientists and the opportunity to meet, eat with, and ask questions of Catholic scientists in many fields and at various stages of their careers.
Fall 2022 Magi Lecture with Francis Su
Our Fall 2022 Magi Project Lecture on math and human flourishing, featured distinguished mathematician and author, Prof. Francis Su, Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and former president of the Mathematical Association of America. Prof. Su’s talk will explore the idea that math is more than just a way to describe the world and a set of skills—rightly understood, it is a deeply human enterprise that can fulfill fundamental human longings and build virtue. Learn more here.
Gold Mass for Catholic Scientists
Collegium Institute hosted a Gold Mass for Catholic Scientists on Saturday, November 19 at 12pm at St. Agatha-St.James Church, celebrated by Fr. Hyacinth Cordell, O.P., pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Rittenhouse.
Gold Masses are celebrated for Catholics who are or have been involved with the sciences. The patron of this mass is St. Albert the Great, a 13th century Dominican friar and teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas—and the patron saint of scientists.
Click the button below to see Fr. Hyacinth Cordell’s Gold Mass Homily, “Embracing the Legacy of ST. Albert the Great.”
A Magi Project “Food for Thought” Seminar
What does it mean to know something? How do the ways in which we are taught or the ways in which academic research is done influence and shape our knowledge? In this seminar series for Penn students, we will explore knowledge across disciplines—including what it means for something to be true in both the sciences and the humanities—and how the rituals of learning influence our understanding. Click here to learn more.
Summer 2022 Magi Conference: What is Life?
In June of 2022, Collegium Institute and PRRUCS hosted an international, multi-day collaborative conversation between scientists, philosophers and theologians to explore the question "What is life?" Esteemed scholars from a variety of fields gathered to address this central question from multiple disciplinary vantage points: astrobiology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, behavioral genetics & human flourishing, health. Click the button below to read more about the conference and speakers, and stay tuned for news about the upcoming special conversational issue of the PRRUCS Journal featuring the initial statements and post-conference reflections by each of the speakers.
The Magi Project seeks to build dialogue between science and faith, helping people of faith to grow in their understanding of science, and helping scientists to understand the perspective of people of faith. Other past events have included:
On Reconciling Science and Religion a series of lectures with world-renowned Catholic scientists and speakers, breakout seminars, a panel discussion on scientific vocations, and a Gold Mass.
Probing the Shallows of the Unknown: A Magi Project Evening Conversation an evening conversation with Prof. Marcelo Gleiser (Dartmouth) and Prof. Michell Francl (Bryn Mawr)
How Artificial Intelligence Will Change Us, a conversation between Prof. Jordan Wales (Hilllsdale) and Prof. John Dolan (Carnegie Melon)
To view more past Magi Project events and programs, click the button below.
Magi Summer Seminars
With the gracious support of the John Templeton Foundation, our Magi Project hosted three summers of seminars that drew together graduate students and faculty from around the country to explore the intersections of physics, philosophy and theology. Topics for these week long seminars included:
-2019, Space, Time and Eternity: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry
-2018, Creation Ex Nihilo: Conversations in Science, Faith, and Philosophy about the Origins of our Universe
-2017, Seeing Reality: Conversations in Science, Faith and Philosophy
This project was made possible through the support of ‘In Lumine: Supporting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition on Campuses Nationwide’ (Grant #62372) from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in any publications, videos, lectures, etc. associated with this project are those of the author(s) or speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
“The universe has always beckoned us. Over the course of human civilisation, the night sky has provided a calendar for the farmer, a guide for the sailor, and a home for the gods. Astronomy led the scientific revolution, which continues to this day and has revealed that the sky visible to the naked eye is really just a hint of a vast and complex cosmos, within which our home planet is but a pale blue dot. Astronomers continue to explore the universe, learning its amazing history, discovering the richness of its contents, and understanding the physical processes that take place in its astoundingly diverse environments. Today, astronomy expands knowledge and understanding, inspiring new generations to ask, How did the universe form and the stars first come into being? Is there life beyond Earth? What natural forces control our universal destiny? Because of the remarkable scientific progress in recent decades, in particular the explosion over the last decade of interest in and urgency to understand several key areas in astronomy and astrophysics, scientists are now poised to address these and many other equally profound questions in substantive ways. "
— excerpt from the Decadal Review: New Worlds, New Horizons, 2010