APPLY HERE FOR THE 2015-2017 Sinai and Synapses Fellowship!
Do you want to learn from some of the top scientists, theologians and thinkers in the world?
Do you want to meet and network with a diverse and yet intimate group of scientists, clergy and bloggers who will inspire you and challenge you?
Do you want to gain new tools and new language to help people find meaning and value in both religion and science?
Then apply here for the 2015-2017 Sinai and Synapses Fellowship!
What is it?
The Sinai and Synapses Fellowship is a small interfaith group of clergy, scientists and bloggers who are committed to elevating the discourse surrounding religion and science.
How do we do that? By personalizing the relationship around religion and science. The Fellows are models for a productive conversation surrounding religion and science: they are dedicated to exploring their own stories, their own commitments and their own doubts — and are dedicated to learning about and from other people’s journeys, as well. Indeed, our previous Fellows have included rabbis, an Episcopal priest, a Baha’i bio-technician and a dedicated agnostic.
The Fellowship is designed to encourage curiosity, cross-pollination, and the creation of new questions to explore. Every Fellow is someone who has an interest in both science and religion, as well as a professional / academic background in one or the other. The Fellows then engage their communities and create meaningful content (such as our Discussion Forum or our “More Light, Less Heat” series) and programs, helping people discover that science and religion are not simply ideas, but involve real concerns that affect real people’s lives.
What do people get out of it?
Sinai and Synapses Fellows get to:
- Learn with some of the most interesting and dynamic thought leaders on topics like “Belief and Knowledge, Doubt and Uncertainty,” “Technology and Religion: Remaining Human in a Co-Created World,” and “Mind, Brain and Free Will”
- Gain new skills for communicating with audiences on challenging, controversial and important subjects
- Discover opportunities to work with people in different areas of expertise and different backgrounds, yet who share a common shared set of values and purpose
Previous presenters have included:
Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, Director of the American Association for Advancement of Science Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion and Senior Astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Center
Rabbi Brad Artson, Dean’s Chair of the Ziegler Rabbinic School of American Jewish University and author of The God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology
Professor Stuart Firestein, former chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, author of Ignorance: How It Drives Science, and speaker at TED 2013
Previous Fellows have remarked:
“I have rarely found a group where I’ve felt so comfortable and challenged, and with whom I’ve had the chance to bounce ideas.”
“It was amazing to have dedicated time to explore ideas and issues we don’t often reflect on in our day-to-day lives.”
“Some of the most valuable things I got from this group were stories – personal stories of people different from me, who think and feel differently than I do.”
“I was forced to hone my own ideas and ways of communicating – I understand my own position much better than beforehand.”
“I am so grateful because I got to work and learn with so many smart, fascinating people.”
What are the commitments?
If you elect to participate in the Sinai and Synapses Fellowship, you are committing to:
- Six one-day seminars in New York City (three times per year for two years, in November, February and May) for learning, networking and program / content development. These trips are heavily subsidized (hotel room and up to $500 travel).
- Creating content (blogposts, videos or articles) and/or running programs in your community
- Bringing both your head and your heart to stimulating and challenging conversations
Who are we looking for?
The ideal Fellow is someone who is:
- A professional in either religion or science (e.g. clergy person, working scientist, educator, professor, doctoral student, medical professional, journalist)
- Passionate about elevating the discourse surrounding religion and science
- Deeply curious about new ideas and new perspectives
- Excited about learning from both experts and peers
- Respectful when challenging others, and willing to be challenged themselves
- Searching for new questions, rather than trying to find answers
- Aware that there are often multiple truths on any subject
- Able to create content and run programs in his/her field
- Active on social media
If this sounds like you, then we welcome your application!
The application is due by July 31, 2015.