The American Association for the Advancement of Science has announced it will award $1.5 million in grants to 10 U.S. seminaries for science to be included in their curricula.

"Each school will develop and implement curricula with integrated science for at least two core theological courses (such as those in systematic theology, biblical studies, church history, and pastoral theology) over the next two years," the AAAS said on October 8.

The "Science for Seminaries" grants will be funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the same group that funded various projects of AAAS to bridge science and faith.

AAAS advisers have recommended such projects in consultation with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

Renewal-oriented seminary Regent University School of Divinity and African-American seminary Howard University's School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. are among those who will receive the grant.

"Many (religious leaders) don't get a lot of science in their training and yet they become the authority figures that many people in society look up to for advice for all kinds of things, including issues related to science and technology," said Jennifer Wiseman, director of the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion.

AAAS said each school will develop and implement curricula with integrated science for at least two core theological courses over the next two years.

SCIENCE RESOURCES

With the grant, AAAS will also provide science resources such as short science-education videos, scientist advisers from research institutions, and faculty mentors who have integrated science into seminary classes.

"There are interesting intersections of all these types of courses with either modern science or the history of science or the philosophy of science that would be very useful for these students to become acquainted with," Wiseman said.

Wiseman noted that the project aims to equip religious leaders with a solid scientific foundation so that they can address questions related to science.

Stephen R. Graham, senior director of programs and services at the Association of Theological Schools said that Science for Seminaries will have a positive impact on theological education and also for many people served by the schools and their graduates.

The following institutions will receive grants to cover the cost of faculty, campus-wide events on the relevance of science to theological education, science resources, guest speakers, and more:

Andover Newton Theological School - Newton Centre, Massachusetts

Catholic University of America - Washington, D.C.

Columbia Theological Seminary - Decatur, Georgia

Concordia Seminary - St. Louis, Missouri

Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg - Pennsylvania

Howard University School of Divinity - Washington, D.C.

Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University - Berkeley, California

Multnomah Biblical Seminary - Portland, Oregon

Regent University School of Divinity - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Wake Forest University School of Divinity - Winston-Salem, N.C.