About The Faraday Institute
The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion is a world-leading interdisciplinary research and dissemination institute for science and religion, based in Cambridge, UK.
Founded in 2006 (as part of St. Edmund’s College), it is now an independent charitable organisation with membership of the Cambridge Theological Federation, an affiliate of Cambridge University.
The mission of The Faraday Institute is to shed new light on life’s big questions through academically rigorous research in the field of science and religion; to provide life-changing resources for those with interests in science and faith through research dissemination, education and training; and, to catalyse a change in attitude towards science and faith, through outreach to schools, colleges, the scientific community, religious institutions and the general public.
About The Faraday Institute Youth and Schools Programme
'Faraday Kids', 'Faraday Teens', and 'Faraday Educators' are outputs of The Faraday Institute Youth and Schools Programme. Our team is made up of Steph, Lizzie, Cara and Cathy. Click here to meet the team.
Our work is stimulated by research and experience which demonstrate that the majority of children and young people have important 'Big Questions' about the interactions of science and religious faith but that these often go unexplored as it isn’t always easy for teachers, parents and others to find time and resources to help. Our work aims to equip children, young people and those who influence them with opportunities and resources to explore these questions, recognising that they can have significant and long-term impact on the worldviews and societies developed as these young people grow up.
The Faraday Institute’s work has always included outreach to young people and since 2013 we have been developing a wide-reaching and successful programme, providing opportunities for thousands of young people of all ages to explore positive science-faith interactions through accessible interactive sessions and training for those in positions of influence.
Visits and training
We love to run accessible, interactive sessions all over the UK (and beyond!), with young people of all ages. We can tailor our session to whatever you might need – a short introduction, a Q&A session or full days with us, and maybe some other scientists and theologians too. Since 2013, thousands of young people have enjoyed these opportunities to explore positive science-faith interactions through fun, hands-on, question-based sessions in schools, churches and all kinds of other contexts.
We also run training for teachers, youth workers, budding science and/or faith communicators and others who have the opportunity to help young people explore science-faith interactions.
See our visits and training pages for more information.
Resources
We review and recommend helpful resources produced by others, as well as working with world-leading publishers and others to produce our own high-quality resources, from story books to interactive games and activities. We have several resources currently in production and this website is often updated with information and access to new material.
See our resources page for those which have been published and watch this space for new releases and exclusive offers!
We also welcome recommendation of relevant resources for review and submission of proposals for publication of new resources with support from our team. Please get in touch if you have created, or know of, resources which might complement those on this website in supporting the communication of positive science-faith interactions to children, young people and those who influence them.
About our Ethos
The aim of our programme is to help and encourage everyone to use reliable information and well-thought-through ideas to explore and talk about big questions. An important part of this is equipping young people to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with different people, ideas and beliefs.
Some of our work and resources focus particularly on the relationship between science and the Christian faith. This is due to the high proportion of questions asked regarding science and Christianity and because our Youth and Schools team members each hold a Christian faith, so are particularly well-equipped to contribute to this discussion from a place of personal experience. The Faraday Institute’s ethos is also based on Christian ideas.
Although we sometimes have a particular focus on the Christian faith, the aim of the programme is not to advocate any one particular viewpoint, but to encourage informed, accurate and respectful engagement with a wide diversity of opinions concerning interactions between scientific and religious thinking. We love to engage with people with any or no religious background, and have had great success doing so in a wide variety of schools and other contexts. Through our work, young people from a whole range of different faiths and worldviews have the chance to explore their questions with those who have spent many years thinking about these ideas, and are well respected within the mainstream scientific and theological communities
Please get in touch if you have questions about how our ethos influences our work.
Stay in touch
By signing up to our mailing list, HERE, you can expect just 2-3 emails a year covering exciting resources and news. When signing up, you will be able to provide some additional details if you would like to receive targeted opportunities and events matching your particular interests and geographical area. We use the third-party provider, Mailchimp, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
*Note: if you are younger than 18, please ask an adult to sign up on your behalf, so they can keep you updated on our news.
Privacy, Data Protection and Cookies
The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion is committed to the proper management of personal data.
For details of our privacy policy click here. For details of our cookie policy click here.
