Convergences of Science with Faith – A Faith and Science Webinar
A Foretaste of Rome, December 2026
Saturday June 27, 4-630 pm BST
“The One [Mystical Union], the Good [Faith], the True [Science], and the Beautiful [Art], these are what we call the transcendental attributes of Being, because they surpass all the limits of essences and are coextensive with Being.”
Hans Urs van Balthasar
The Rome meeting is designed as a seamless transition between keynote topics: physics to creation, chemistry to life, biology to consciousness, and psychology to mysticism. It will culminate in research documenting the effects of quality-of-life improvement through use of interfaith contemplative prayer and underscoring the importance of consciousness and mysticism. Our goal is to show how faith and current science reinforce each other and to encourage respectful and searching dialogue between laity, clergy, scientists and medical professionals. Speakers will describe their transformational journeys and key insights along the way.
In this taster we will give you a preview of what to expect at the hybrid conference to be held in Rome from December 11-13, 2026. To that end we will be presenting two dialogues between keynote speakers followed by a panel discussion and Q & A.
4:00 pm Opening Prayer by Fr Laurence Freeman
4:05-4:20 pm Introductions by Robert Hesse PhD and David Lorimer
4:20-4:50 pm Dialogue 1: Physics & Chemistry – Big Bang to Life
Dr Jennifer Wiseman – A Universe Enriched Through Cosmic Time for Life Today
Dr Kate Adamala – Â The Chemical Principles of Biology
4:50-5:05 pm Panel Discussion
Hand-on question to next dialogue: how do you see the relationship betweenÂ
consciousness and life?
5:05-5:35pm Dialogue 2: Biology to Consciousness
Prof Simon Conway-Morris, FRS – Patterns of Life and the Emergence of Complexity
Federico Faggin – The Universe is Self-Knowing
5:35-5:50 pm Panel Discussion
5:50-6:20 pm Q & A
6:20 pm Closing Remarks and Prayer by Imam Jamal Rahman
•
Special Introductions by:
David Lorimer, Programme Director and Global Ambassador, Scientific and Medical Network, Editor, Paradigm Explorer, is a visionary polymath, poet, spiritual activist, writer, lecturer and editor who is a Founder of Character Education Scotland, Programme Director of the Scientific and Medical Network and former President of Wrekin Trust and the Swedenborg Society. Originally a merchant banker and then a teacher of philosophy and modern languages at Winchester College, he is the author and editor of over a dozen books, including The Spirit of Science, Thinking beyond the Brain, Science, Consciousness and Ultimate Reality, and A New Renaissance (edited with Oliver Robinson). His most recent books are his essays A Quest for Wisdom and his collection of poems, Better Light a Candle.Â
Robert Hesse PhD, Chairman and Co-Founder of The Contemplative Network, is a permanent Catholic deacon, and author of Faith and Science: A Journey into God’s Mystical Love. This textbook is the agenda for the first faith and science conference in Rome and for graduate courses in Rome and Houston, resulting in a published Teacher’s Guide. He has degrees in both faith and science, with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Hesse has given numerous international and interfaith presentations, retreats and courses on faith and science and contemplative prayer. He has co-authored medical research studies on improvements in quality-of-life associated with interfaith contemplative prayer.
About the speakers:
Kate Adamala, PhD earned her doctorate in biochemistry. She is Assistant Professor of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development at the University of Minnesota. She studied at Harvard University for five years under Nobel Laureate Dr. Jack Szostak. She also studied at the University of Rome. Her research on prebiotic RNA replication provided an experimental scenario for the RNA world hypothesis of the origin of life. Her lab studies the origin and early evolution of life. Her research interests are on synthetic cells, cell-free protein expression, and engineering genetic pathways.
Jennifer Wiseman, PhD  is a senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope. She studied physics at MIT, where she discovered the comet 114P/Wiseman-Skiff, which led to her Ph.D. in astronomy at Harvard University. She is fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, a network of Christians in Science. She is also Director Emeritus of the program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion. She has appeared in many science and news venues, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NOVA and National Public Radio.
Simon Conway Morris, PhD, FRS
Earned his Ph.D. from Cambridge University where he was appointed to the Chair of Evolutionary Palaeobiology in the Department of Earth Sciences in 1995 and is now Professor Emeritus. He has participated extensively in science and religion debates, broadcasting on both radio and television. He has lectured at many universities worldwide including the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, sponsored by the Catholic Church. He was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize in 2026
Federico Faggin, Ph.D.
Consciousness & Free Will
Designed the first Intel microprocessor, making computers possible. Raised Catholic in Italy, he left his faith for years. Inspired by a profound mystical experience, he was called to return and study consciousness. With a doctorate in physics, his passion was quantum consciousness and artificial neural networks, starting at Synaptics, which he founded. His 2024 book Irreducible – Consciousness, life, computers, and human nature documents his quantum theory of consciousness and love. He founded the Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation to support the scientific study of consciousness. He is the recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
- BOOK: Webinar 29 November Coupon code Hessenov for 40% off the conference’s theme book, Faith and Science: A Journey into God’s Mystical Love, is available and valid until December 31, 2025 and redeemable on  https://crossroadpublishing.com/product/faith-and-science/
- DONATON: Following is proposed wording for webinar registration donation option. “Donation: To Contemplative Network (Link:Â CN) for neuroscience research on interfaith centering prayer and mental illness.
TICKETS
Please note: This event is NOT included in the SMN Season Ticket.
REGISTER BELOW. This event is DONATION–BASED and includes a FREE ticket option.
All bookings will receive a link to view the RECORDING.
Speaker
-
Federico FagginPhysicist, Engineer, Inventor, EntrepreneurFederico Faggin received a Laurea degree in Physics, summa cum laude, from the University of Padua, Italy, in 1965, and moved to Silicon Valley in 1968. He developed the MOS Silicon Gate Technology in 1968; the world’s first microprocessor, the Intel 4004 in 1971, and several highly successful microprocessors, like the Intel 8080 and the Z80 produced by Zilog, his first startup company. Faggin was CEO of several high-tech startup companies he founded and directed since 1974. He is currently president of Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation, dedicated to the science of consciousness. Faggin has received many international awards, including the 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, from President Barack Obama. In 2021 he published his autobiography Silicon.
