Scientia Pro Amore Dei: Science for the Love of God
St. Louis Classical Catholic Education Symposium
January 9th | 9AM - 2PM
Chesterton Academy of St. Louis is honored to host the third annual St. Louis Catholic Classical Education Symposium on January 9th, 2027. We have partnered with the McGrath Institute at The University of Notre Dame and The John Templeton Foundation to offer an inspiring day of talks and immersive classroom experiences focused on this year's theme of Scientia Pro Amore Dei: Science for the Love of God.
As Catholic parents and educators, we are constantly striving to help our students know the love of God through the earnest study of His creation. This pursuit often brings with it perceived tensions and obstacles, especially as we dive deeper into the mysteries of our world. At this symposium, we hope to explore how to truly rest in the tension and ask the hard questions, knowing that the sincere search for scientific facts will always lead us to the Eternal Truth. In our homes and schools, we want to raise adults who understand the history and process of scientific disciplines and who can bring an informed sense of wonder about our world into their duties as citizens, professionals, evangelizers, and stewards of creation. We encourage parents and teachers of all subjects to attend this interdisciplinary conference, and can guarantee that all attendees will come away with helpful insights and a renewed sense of the beautiful integration of knowledge embodied in a true education.
Dr. Baglow is a nationally known educator, writer, and speaker on topics at the intersection of science and theology. His keynote presentation, entitled “Catholic Academic Integration and Education,” will address the fundamental essence of a Catholic education. The Church teaches that the Catholic school is “a synthesis between faith, culture and life... reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel" and "an atmosphere characterized by the search for truth.” In this presentation, Dr. Baglow will explore this definition and how, as Catholic faithful, we can re-assert the deep compatibility of faith and reason, reinforcing the credibility of the Church in our cultural and civil discourse and in the minds of our students. He will also share recent data about the importance of including modern science within that integration.
As in years past, our keynote will be followed by two breakout talks, one directed at teachers and educators and one more geared toward parents.
Teacher Breakout
Creation and Evolution, Chance and Purpose: A Catholic Perspective
Our teacher breakout will be given by Dr. Dan Kuebler, professor of biology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Kuebler will take up the theory of evolution and model how we can address this theory in a thoroughly Christian and scientific way. For some, the scientific theory of evolution is seen as incompatible with a God who has knowingly and purposely fashioned us. However, if one examines the science of evolution properly, the theory can reveal the order inherent in creation. As Pope Benedict has stated, creation and evolution represent “two complementary—rather than mutually exclusive—realities.”
Parent Breakout
Disarmed and Disarming - AI and the Response of the Domestic Church
Heather Foucault-Camm, the Program Director of the Science and Religion Initiative at The McGrath Institute, will give our parent breakout talk on artificial intelligence and its potential benefits and harms to our students. With an aim to help parents navigate these rapid technological advances, she will draw on her own experience as a science educator, scholar on AI topics, and parent to address the particular response to AI from within the domestic church– the irreplaceable locus of faith, wonder, and human love in the life of each person.
All participants will also be able to choose one immersion session to attend in the afternoon. These immersion sessions are smaller, classroom-focused talks given by scholars on a range of topics. Not only are they an opportunity to experience good teaching and expertise, these sessions are sparks to reignite our own love of learning in our homes and classrooms.
Scientia Pro Amore Dei: Science for the Love of God
St. Louis Classical Catholic Education Symposium
January 9th | 9AM - 2PM
Chesterton Academy of St. Louis is honored to host the third annual St. Louis Catholic Classical Education Symposium on January 9th, 2027. We have partnered with the McGrath Institute at The University of Notre Dame and The John Templeton Foundation to offer an inspiring day of talks and immersive classroom experiences focused on this year's theme of Scientia Pro Amore Dei: Science for the Love of God.
As Catholic parents and educators, we are constantly striving to help our students know the love of God through the earnest study of His creation. This pursuit often brings with it perceived tensions and obstacles, especially as we dive deeper into the mysteries of our world. At this symposium, we hope to explore how to truly rest in the tension and ask the hard questions, knowing that the sincere search for scientific facts will always lead us to the Eternal Truth. In our homes and schools, we want to raise adults who understand the history and process of scientific disciplines and who can bring an informed sense of wonder about our world into their duties as citizens, professionals, evangelizers, and stewards of creation. We encourage parents and teachers of all subjects to attend this interdisciplinary conference, and can guarantee that all attendees will come away with helpful insights and a renewed sense of the beautiful integration of knowledge embodied in a true education.
Dr. Baglow is a nationally known educator, writer, and speaker on topics at the intersection of science and theology. His keynote presentation, entitled “Catholic Academic Integration and Education,” will address the fundamental essence of a Catholic education. The Church teaches that the Catholic school is “a synthesis between faith, culture and life... reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel" and "an atmosphere characterized by the search for truth.” In this presentation, Dr. Baglow will explore this definition and how, as Catholic faithful, we can re-assert the deep compatibility of faith and reason, reinforcing the credibility of the Church in our cultural and civil discourse and in the minds of our students. He will also share recent data about the importance of including modern science within that integration.
As in years past, our keynote will be followed by two breakout talks, one directed at teachers and educators and one more geared toward parents.
Teacher Breakout
Creation and Evolution, Chance and Purpose: A Catholic Perspective
Our teacher breakout will be given by Dr. Dan Kuebler, professor of biology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Kuebler will take up the theory of evolution and model how we can address this theory in a thoroughly Christian and scientific way. For some, the scientific theory of evolution is seen as incompatible with a God who has knowingly and purposely fashioned us. However, if one examines the science of evolution properly, the theory can reveal the order inherent in creation. As Pope Benedict has stated, creation and evolution represent “two complementary—rather than mutually exclusive—realities.”
Parent Breakout
Disarmed and Disarming - AI and the Response of the Domestic Church
Heather Foucault-Camm, the Program Director of the Science and Religion Initiative at The McGrath Institute, will give our parent breakout talk on artificial intelligence and its potential benefits and harms to our students. With an aim to help parents navigate these rapid technological advances, she will draw on her own experience as a science educator, scholar on AI topics, and parent to address the particular response to AI from within the domestic church– the irreplaceable locus of faith, wonder, and human love in the life of each person.
All participants will also be able to choose one immersion session to attend in the afternoon. These immersion sessions are smaller, classroom-focused talks given by scholars on a range of topics. Not only are they an opportunity to experience good teaching and expertise, these sessions are sparks to reignite our own love of learning in our homes and classrooms.
Location
Chesterton Academy of St. Louis
12934 Marine Ave.
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
United States
