Thursday, May 8, 2025
McMaster Divinity College,
Hamilton, ON
Recent developments in digital technology and advances in bioengineering are reshaping the way we do business, interact socially, utilize medical treatments, educate ourselves, and pursue personal and family well-being. Even the way society conceives what it means to be human is under examination. What are the implications of emerging technologies for Christian discipleship, pastoral care, and corporate life? What theological and ethical values should encourage or constrain Christian adoption of the available opportunities? This symposium brings together church leaders, theologians, scientists, and others interested in discussing what it means to faithfully follow Christ and lead the church in the midst of emerging technologies in A.I., genetic engineering, media, pharmaceuticals, human augmentation, robotics, and transhumanism.
Plenary Speakers
Derek C. Schuurman
Derek C. Schuurman worked as an electrical engineer for several years and later completed a PhD in Electrical Engineering at McMaster University in the area of robotics and computer vision using machine learning. He is currently professor of computer science at Calvin University, a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, an associate fellow of the Kirby Laing Centre, and an advisor for AI&Faith. He has written about faith and technology issues in a variety of publications including monthly columns in Christian Courier and regular contributions to the Christian Scholar’s Review blog. He is the author of the book Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology and co-author of A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers, both published by InterVarsity Academic Press.
Jeff Hardin
Jeff Hardin is the Raymond E. Keller and Wayland Noland Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned a PhD from the University of California-Berkeley with post-doctoral research at Duke University. He specializes in the genetics and cell biology of embryonic development. In addition to teaching, research, and publication in his field, he holds a Master of Divinity degree and is active in numerous Christian organizations and campus ministries, including the American Scientific Affiliation, BioLogos, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, and Navigators.
Registration Is Now Open!
In-Person General Admission: $80.00
In-Person Students/Alumni/Seniors: $60.00
Livestream Admission: $60.00
In-person registration includes full-day conference attendance, including choice of parallel sessions, and lunch. Livestream admission includes full-day conference attendance via Zoom. Livestream attendees will attend specific parallel sessions held in our livestream space. Space is limited, so register early to secure your seat!
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Schedule
*Sessions marked with an asterisk will be live-streamed for those who attend via Zoom
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Call For Papers
We welcome proposals on all aspects and from various academic/pastoral perspectives on our theme. Selected papers will be grouped into parallel sessions. Publication versions may be longer than those delivered.
Proposals should include paper title and an abstract of up to 200 words and must be submitted electronically through our website using the form below by January 31, 2025. Late submissions or submissions missing information may not be considered.
Proposals will be evaluated on their relevance to our theme and the importance of the contribution to balance the variety of topics. Successful candidates will be notified by email. Following the conference, a peer-reviewed volume of the symposium papers will be published by the MDC Press.
The deadline for proposals has now passed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal. Our planning team is currently reviewing proposals and will send responses by end of February.
This event is hosted by:
