Ian C. Binns, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Elementary Science Education in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education in the Cato College of Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science and a M.Ed., both from North Carolina State University. His Ph.D. is in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Science Education from the University of Virginia. Prior to coming to UNC Charlotte, Ian was a faculty member in the College of Education at Louisiana State University. Ian’s research and community work primarily focuses on the interaction between science and religion. His goal is to help people understand science and religion, what makes them unique, their interaction, and how they both benefit society. Specifically, his research looks at how preservice elementary teachers’ scientific literacy and faith-based beliefs influence their perceptions of how socio-scientific issues, such as evolution, creationism, and intelligent design, should be addressed in the classroom. His community work includes public testimony in defense of science in Louisiana, efforts to help the science education community become more aware of attempts to undermine science instruction, and science-faith courses at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Charlotte, NC.

What Does It Mean to be “Human”?

November 25, 2019 by Dr. Adam Pryor, Ian Binns, PhD, Kendra Holt Moore, Rev. Zachary Jackson

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If humans aren’t self-contained units, what’s our responsibility to the other elements that we’re connected to? 

Science and Religion: Playing in the Sandbox

November 18, 2019 by Dr. Adam Pryor, Ian Binns, PhD, Kat Robison, Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver, Rev. Gawain de Leeuw

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How does play help us understand the rules of the game for both science and religion? How can they help us better understand and create more joy in the work that we do?

How Do We Use Storytelling to Make Sense of Climate Change?

January 31, 2019 by Ian Binns, PhD, Myriam Renaud, PhD, Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver, Timothy Maness

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How might we help others see themselves as vulnerable climate change, but also empowered to do something about it?

Science, Religion and Emerging Adults

March 28, 2018 by Arvin Gouw, PhD, Brian Gallagher, Dr. Adam Pryor, Ian Binns, PhD, Laura Donnelly, Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman, Rabbi Rachael Jackson, Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver, Rev. Zachary Jackson, Timothy Maness

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Is science driving emerging adults from religion? Our Sinai and Synapses Fellows discuss.

Science Doesn’t Compromise Religion — and Religion Doesn’t Compromise Science

December 14, 2017 by Dr. Mark Bloom, Ian Binns, PhD

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Ian Binns, Ph.D. and Dr. Mark Bloom discuss how they came to hold a belief about science and religion being in dialogue rather than in opposition.