In this Issue:
  
  
  
  

Conference Focal Theme Questions


    Conference 1

Does time, as treated in relativistically informed current physical theories and their applications to cosmology (e.g., inflationary Big Bang, eternal inflation, superstring theory, Brane / multiverses, etc.), have an "origin" or is time "eternal"?



    Conference 2

If these three broad issues(Evolution, ET, and the Significance of Life in the Universe) can be solved to the satisfaction of biologists, would this reduce these issues entirely to the domain of biology or would we still value a broader and complimentary context of explanation that includes the transcendent issues of philosophy, aesthetics and religion?



    Conference 3

Does the self-transcendence of the human spirit point to an ultimate, transcendent source of spirit, or is it an inherent property of nature?





STARS eNewsletter    Volume 1, Issue 6



All eNewsletters are available online at www.ctnsstars.org/enews
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STARS News

Thank you for your interest in our program. The purpose of the enews is to keep you informed on events and happenings of the STARS program. A new letter will be available periodically with updated information on conferences, grants, and the latest news brought to you by the STARS team.


•    The deadline to apply for a STARS conference in January 2007 has passed, and we are no longer accepting applications for the STARS conferences. Conference criteria.


•    STARS FAQ is online.

When viewing the STARS website, look in the top right corner of your web browser for the navigation link.


• Sample Conference FAQ questions.

When will I be notified if I am selected to attend a conference?
All conference applicants will be notified of the results around August 1, 2006.


What are the desired outcomes of the research projects?  
... see faq for answer


• This issue's Featured Conference Speaker is, Alicia Juarrero.

Born in Cuba, Alicia Juarrero received her BA, MA and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Miami (Florida). She has taught at Prince George's (MD) Community College since 1975, and was the first community college professor to receive a Presidential appointment to the National Council on the Humanities, the governing board of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Alicia Juarrero will be speaking at the third STARS conference. View conference information.





STARS Conferences

STARS will convene a series of three interdisciplinary conferences in the Mexican Riviera, on the Yucatan Peninsula in January 2007. The conferences will showcase an aspect of how current scientific discoveries and theories relate to our understanding of ultimate reality. Each conference will be led by an eminent scientific figure in the field, and will allow ample time for lectures as well as formal and informal discussions. Conference attendance is by application only. STARS conferences are designed to assist scholars in formulating their planning & research grant proposals.

All "on the ground costs" will be covered by CTNS, including: lodging, meals, and local transportation. Airfare assistance is available for qualified applicants, and may be requested during the application process (See online application for more details). If selected to attend a STARS Conference, conference participants will be expected to pay the conference registration fee when notified of acceptance.

Conference registration fees are:
  • $125 for CTNS members
  (for CTNS membership details, please go to: http://www.ctns.org/membership.html)
  • $175 for non-members

View conference topics & speakers

Conference criteria.



STARS Grants

Research grants will be awarded to inter-disciplinary teams consisting of at least one scientist and one philosopher and/or theologian. Teams may also be larger than this minimum size. The first grant opportunity consists of a planning grant of $20,000. Twenty grants at this level will be awarded, and are to assist teams in the formation of their full research proposal for the $100K grants and/or to provide modest support for research by the teams even if this does not lead to a full research proposal. Next, five grants of $100,000 each will be awarded on a highly competitive basis. Although to win a $100,000 grant a research team need not have received a $20,000 planning grant, it is presumed that the reception of a $20,000 grant will better equip a research team to successfully compete for one of the five $100,000 grants. Finally, two research grant renewals of $200,000 will be awarded on a highly competitive basis from among the five winners of the $100,000 grants.

View Grant Information


• Grant Applications available online .



About STARS

The goal of STARS is to sponsor research by small teams of scientists and humanities scholars on the ways science, in light of philosophical and religious reflection, points towards the nature, character and meaning of ultimate reality. Priority will be given to young scientists with outstanding potential who are relatively new to interdisciplinary research. Admission to preparatory conferences and the awarding of STARS research grants will be on a highly competitive basis.


Meet the STARS advisors and staff.


For contact info please visit us on the web at www.ctnsstars.org/contactus



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Appreciation is expressed to the John Templeton Foundation for support of this program.