Our two-stage application process begins with a 1-2 page Letter of Interest (LOI). If it looks as if you would be a good fit for the programme, we will ask for a more detailed full proposal (8-10 pages). Proposals will be evaluated by external reviewers with experience in science and theology.
Calendar:
Letters of Interest (LOI) Accepted 7 Aug – 29 Sep 2023
LOI decisions and proposal requests early Nov 2023
Proposals Accepted until 12 Jan 2024
Awards Announced Feb 2024
Letters of Interest
Please send LOIs by email to science.forseminaries@durham.ac.uk before 5:00pm Friday 29 September 2023. Letters should be no more than 2 pages in length (500 words).
Successful letters will address each of the selection criteria below in a concise and compelling way. They will include preliminary ideas on integrating science into at least one required course and hosting a campus-wide event. They will highlight potential impact of the project on students, faculty, and the larger community. Please attach contact information and brief biographies for proposed project leaders. Budget information is not needed at this stage.
Selection Criteria:
- One or more staff members teaching core courses who are committed to achieving the project’s goals in cooperation with other schools
- Ability to integrate science into one or more existing courses in the core curriculum, such as systematics, ethics, missiology, apologetics, or pastoral ministry
- The creation of one science theology activity within the life of the College or course; this could be a scientist-in-residence, a podcast series or an art, drama or music production (creative activities will be viewed favorably; lecture series are discouraged unless they bring a novel approach)
- Institutional capacity to implement the grant including a willingness to use ECLAS materials and create new resources
- Commitment to sustainability beyond the length of the project
- Demonstrated institutional commitment to cultural engagement
Exceptional proposals will also do one or more of the following:
- Contribute to public understanding of the issue
- Engage with previously under-represented groups
- Explore a novel yet academically rigorous approach to the material
- Fill a concrete need for a specific community (i.e., produce theological resources or activities for hospital chaplains dealing with theodicy and COVID-19)
We are also dedicated to engaging cultural, geographic, and theological breadth.
Full Proposals
Proposals by invitation only. We will send out detailed instructions after stage one. In brief, the proposal will be 8-10 pages long (4000-5000 words) submitted in a MS Word or PDF file to science.forseminaries@durham.ac.uk before 5:00pm Friday 12 January 2024.
Proposals include description of the planned class and activity as well as details about the organization, personnel, cultural engagement, and possibilities for the future. They should be accompanied by faculty CVs, administration letter(s) of support, and a comprehensive budget with accompanying narrative.
Questions
For more information, do not hesitate to email SfS programme associate Alex Jordan at science.forseminaries@durham.ac.uk, or SfS programme lead Lucas Mix at lucas.mix@durham.ac.uk. We look forward to working with applicants at every stage to ensure the best possible proposals and projects.