About COSAC 2024
Join us at ISCAST’s biennial Conference on Science and Christianity (COSAC 2024) as we come together to dive into these questions over three days.
- What does the Bible say about being human?
- What are the implications of being made in God’s image? Of being created “male and female”?
- Are bodies essential to being human?
- Are we free to heal them? Remodel them? Enhance them? Escape them altogether? Should we seek to combat aging? Mortality?
- When does the good use of God-given creativity cross the line and become “playing God”?
- What are the implications for social (in)equality and the abuse of power? And, beyond the church, how can Christians help society wrestle with what it means to be human?
There will be themed parallel presentations by theologians, philosophers, scientists, and practitioners, as well as keynote talks and panel sessions for a lay audience. There will be plenty of opportunities to connect with others interested in the science–faith conversation.
If you’re a student:
- You could win a $1000 grant for a science–faith project! See our Call for Proposals for more details.
- You can enquire about extra assistance from scholarships and grants (on top of the already discounted student tickets) if required to be able to attend the conference. We don’t want anyone to miss out. If this is applicable to you, contact us.
Friday Night Speakers
Neil Dodgson, as a leader in this inter-disciplinary field, is one of our three "AI x Christianity" keynote speakers. He is Professor of Computer Graphics in the Faculty of Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Research at Victoria University of Wellington. He has spent 30 years working across mathematics, engineering, and computing, including twenty years as co-leader of the Graphics and Interaction Research Group at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. His current research students use a range of AI techniques to achieve novel results in image processing.
Kara Martin is a lecturer, mentor, podcaster, as well as author of "Workship" and "Workship 2", which are focused on rediscovering our vocations, and "Keeping Faith" which is about developing organisational theologies. She lectures at Mary Andrews College, Sydney, and is an Adjunct Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston. Drawing on 30 years of experience in corporate and not-for-profit roles (in TV journalism, human resources, business analysis, lecturing, policy formation, advocacy, theological studies, leadership, and lecturing), her books provide a biblical foundation and practical wisdom to equip workplace Christians, churches and Christian organisations. Both "Workship" books were shortlisted for Australian Christian Book of the Year. She will share on the topic of "Gospel Wisdom for Work" in our "AI x Christianity" session.
Stephen Garner is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College and a consultant at thirdSpaces Consulting. With backgrounds in theology, computer science, and higher education, his research and writing engage with theology, technology, media, ethics, and public and context theology. For 25 years, he’s worked with people developing practical wisdom for living faithfully and ethically with digital technology, media, and culture. He currently serves on the board of the Global Network for Digital Theology, is co-chair of the American Academic of Religion Human Enhancement and Transhumanism Program Unit, and is a member of the Lausanne Theology Working Group. Stephen will also be flying in from New Zealand.
Program schedule
Day 1
Friday 29th November
Opening Night
AI x Christianity (Sydney) –
Gospel Wisdom for an AI World
Artificial intelligence and the “techno-optimist” mindset are rapidly defining our era.
Every day there’s something new happening with AI development, and it’s becoming more prevalent with every passing minute. In fact, you may already be one of the millions of people who use AI every day for work, learning, creation, and more.
But as AI becomes more prominent in our lives, so do the questions it brings with it:
Is AI unbiased? Is it alright for me to use it for work? What happens if AI becomes sentient? Who controls where future technology will take us? And how can I approach these things from a biblical perspective?
AI x Christianity aims to respond to these questions and more, diving headfirst into the heart of the discussion about AI, future technology, and the ethical and theological issues raised.
Across two and a half hours, three speakers and a discussion panel, this ambitious event has been brought to Sydney, to launch COSAC 2024.
We will cover the biggest questions being asked about AI and where technology is taking us today, addressing them from a Christian perspective.
6:30pm
Talks from Neil Dodgson, Stephen Garner, and Kara Martin
8:00pm
Supper break
8:30pm
Panel Discussion + Q&A with speakers
9:00pm
Finish
Day 2
Saturday 30th November
Insights
In-depth explorations
Dive deep into various relevant topics through stimulating presentations at INSIGHTS on Day 2 of COSAC.
8.00 – 9.00am
Registration
8.30 – 9.00am
Morning Prayer led by Rev. Prof. Roger Lewis
9.00am
Conference Opening
9.30am
What Does it Mean to Be Human? A Paleontological Perspective (Neil Ormerod)
10.00am
What Does it Mean to be Human? Reflections on Transhumanism & Future Technologies (Sandra Godde)
10.30am
Artificial Intelligence and the Doctrine of Sin (Stephen Driscoll)
11.00am
Morning Tea
11.30am
Parallel Sessions #1 (info below and on talks page)
1.00pm
Lunch
2.00pm
Parallel Sessions #2 (info below and on talks page)
3.30pm
Afternoon Tea
4.00pm
Troubled Gender Between Creation and New Creation (Andrew Sloane)
4.30pm
Why Can't We Talk About Gender? Butler and Bible in Conversation (Barbara Deutschmann)
5.00pm
Why Judith Butler’s Conception of Fluid and Mosaic “Sex” Makes Sense … to People Who Have Forgotten the Theological Foundations of Modern Science (Paul Tyson)
5.30pm
Free Time
6.00pm
Dinner
7.00pm
The Amazing Pop-culture AI and Science Quiz
8.30pm
Night refreshments
Day 3
Sunday 1st December
Integrate
Faith in practice
INTEGRATE, on Day 3, helps Christians think about how faith integrates with the challenges and opportunities of a “techno-scientific” world.
8.00 – 9.00am
Registration
8.30 – 9.00am
Morning Prayer
9.00am
Welcome
9.15am
Navigating Sex and Gender: Presentations and Panel Discussion (Dani Scarratt, Andrew Sloane, Mel Fung)
10.30am
Morning Tea
11.00am
Digital Theology: Navigating Faith in a Wired World (Stephen Garner)
11.30am
"This Persevering Female": Christian Women of Science in Past Centuries (Jenny Davis)
12.00pm
For the Sake of Humanity 1.0: Abandon the Cosmic Fall Theory and Preserve the Goodness of Human Ageing (David Hooker)
12.30pm
Lunch
1:.00pm
Optional Lunchtime Events: 1. A Life in Science (Jenny Davis & Peter Thomas); 2. Science–Faith Q&A (Chris Mulherin)
1.30pm
Ghosthunting: (How) Can We Tell if AI is Sentient? (Antonios Kaldas)
2.00pm
Ask the Expert: Your AI Questions Answered (Neil Dodgson)
2.30pm
Talk and extended discussion: Speaking to Atheists about Faith and Science: Advice from the Horse's Mouth (Thomas Jump)
3.30pm
Afternoon Tea
4.00pm
Integrate Awards & Closing Remarks
4.30pm
End of Conference
Parallel Presentations
Detailed abstracts and speaker bios describing each presentation are on the talks & speakers page.
SESSION 1 — PARALLEL #1
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Chris Mulherin Two Cheers for AI and Techno-optimism |
Doru Costache Human Perfection Between Deification in Christ and Technological Enhancement |
SESSION 2 — PARALLEL #1
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Antoni Lee Rightly Answering “What Does It Mean to Be Human?” Is Key to Christian Mission |
David Alinurdin Responsible AI: The Intertwine Between Latour’s Actor-Network Theory, Aristotelian Conditions of Responsibility, and Dooyeweerd’s Modal Aspects |
SESSION 3 — PARALLEL #1
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Joseph Thomas Humanity 2.0: Fearfully and Wonderfully Designed? |
Charles Bruce Riding Transhumanism: Dreaming the Impossible Dream |
SESSION 4 — PARALLEL #2
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Emma Berthold Writing for the mainstream press |
Doru Costache Writing for the academic press |
SESSION 5 — PARALLEL #2
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Mark Ridgeway The Rise and Rise of Digital Algorithmic Machines |
Josephine Kalista Utomo The Holy Spirit and Social Media Algorithms |
SESSION 6 — PARALLEL #2
| Room 1 | Room 2 |
|---|---|
| Adrian Tam Creating Technology in a Redemptive Way |
Mark Ridgeway Exploring the Limitations and Possibilities of AI |
Venue
Location
New College (UNSW)
Address
330 Anzac Parade, Kensington NSW 2033