Climate Science in Theological Education (CSTE) project, sponsored by Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER)
Climate Science in Theological Education (CSTE) project
“This 3-year project, with initial funding from the David and Carol Myers Foundation, will provide grants for seminaries to meaningfully engage forefront climate science in their curriculum and activities. The goals are to equip current and future faith leaders to lead their communities in addressing climate change and to create an atmosphere in places of worship where climate science is considered relevant, complementary, and important to religious worldviews.DoSER’s CSTE project will encourage participants to engage climate-related science in ways that are tailored to the specific student, faculty, alumni, and broader faith community. Activities funded through the grant can include capacity building, curriculum engagements, ministry-focused activities, or other program activities. Seminaries will host at least one enrichment activity or campus event that addresses theology and a climate-related science topic, such as environmental justice, air quality and health, extreme weather, food security, agriculture and soil science, marine science and ecology, climate migration, or similar topics.
Our project aims to raise the visibility of issues surrounding climate change and the environmental impact of technology—an important aspect of the dialogue between religion and science. Through strategic partnerships, including collaboration with New College Berkeley and faculty members at the GTU, this project will offer resources, forums, and events in efforts to reach GTU students, alums, neighboring seminaries and the broader Bay Area community, in discussing ways that science and technology can help mitigate environmental challenges.
Activities for the grant include CTNS public forums, an event co-hosted with New College Berkeley, the updating of course syllabi to include additional or new information about the environmental impact of emerging technology, and the 2024-2025 Russell Family Fellowship conference will be dedicated to this topic.
Part of this grant has been learning what other institutions that have received awards are doing, and one thing that has been very effective is the awarding of microgrants at an institution to allow students and faculty who are doing work related to the grant some resources to further their work. These microgrants of up to $1500 can cover a variety of things, but some examples include:
- Funds for a faculty member to buy books, research, and update course syllabi - up to $500
- Bringing in a scientist or activist to speak in a class (AAAS DoSER is also offering resources to help identify science advisors for grants) - $500 per advisor
- Hosting some kind of event on campus related to the topic of the grant
- Using funds to make a published article on related topics open access so it can be shared with a wider audience
We are open to other ideas as well; this list is meant to serve as examples of what people are already doing at other institutions. Given the breadth of work occurring at the GTU, these microgrants will help this grant further existing efforts related to climate science in theological education already happening here.
In order to apply for a microgrant, please write a proposal of 500-1200 words. Included in this proposal should be the amount you are asking for, what you are planning to use the funds for, and how it relates to CTNS’ project as well as the overall goals of the AAAS DoSER CSTE project. Please submit proposals to ctns-info@gtu.edu by September 30.