Stanley Jaki Academy for Theology and Science
The Stanley Jaki Academy for Theology and Science is a collaborative initiative of the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University. It seeks to renew and expand the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s engagement with the sciences by fostering research, teaching and public dialogue at the intersection of theology and scientific inquiry. Named in honor of the late Fr. Stanley L. Jaki, O.S.B., S.T.D., Ph.D., a Templeton Prize laureate, theologian and physicist who taught at Seton Hall, the Academy affirms the University’s legacy as a home for significant and impactful scholarship in the dialogue between faith and reason with an international scope.
Academy Activities
Research and Scholarship
The Academy will cultivate interdisciplinary scholarship that is both scientifically informed and theologically rigorous. Participating faculty from theology, physics, chemistry and beyond will engage current scientific developments—such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience, cosmology and bioethics—through the lens of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Research produced will contribute to national and international conversations and position Seton Hall as a global leader in theology and science dialogue.
Academic Formation
The Academy faculty will develop and offer for-credit courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Over time, this curricular development may grow into a graduate certificate or M.A. concentration. Additionally, the Academy will sponsor student research projects, facilitate cross-disciplinary reading groups and offer mentoring opportunities for students discerning vocations in academia and/or the Church.
Public Engagement
The Academy will host public lectures, conferences, symposia and faculty-led discussion groups that bring internationally respected scholars to campus. These events will provide students and faculty direct access to thought leaders while also fostering dialogue among Catholic educators, scientists and clergy. Such engagement will enrich the University’s intellectual life and promote a vibrant witness to the unity of truth. Additionally, the Academy collaborates with the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS), which hosts a local chapter at Seton Hall, along with other international organizations focused on Fr. Jaki’s work such as the Stanley Jaki Foundation.
Archival Presentation and Institutional Vision
Another component of the Academy is the professional organization and digitization of Fr. Stanley Jaki’s scholarly archives. This project, undertaken in collaboration with University Libraries, will preserve and promote Jaki’s intellectual legacy while supporting future scholarship.
Through these activities, the Academy aims to establish Seton Hall as a national resource and international leader in theology and science education. The Academy’s structure emphasizes rigorous disciplinary training alongside constructive, interdisciplinary collaboration. It will maintain fidelity to the Catholic Tradition while responding creatively to contemporary scientific and technological developments.
Core Faculty
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Reverend Professor Joseph R. Laracy, S.T.D. Director of the Academy Department of Systematic Theology View Profile |
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Professor Jamie Boulding, Ph.D. Associate Director of the Academy Department of Systematic Theology View Profile |
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Professor Jose L. Lopez, Ph.D. Affiliated Faculty Department of Physics View Profile |
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Reverend Professor Gerald Buonopane, Ph.D. Affiliated Faculty Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and University Vice Provost View Profile |
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Professor Patrick Manning, Ph.D. Affiliated Faculty Department of Pastoral Theology and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies View Profile |
Contact
Please contact the Stanley Jaki Academy for Theology and Science Director Reverend Professor Joseph R. Laracy, S.T.D. at [email protected].