Journeys in Science and Faith

Can you be a world-leading scientist and still believe in God? And why would a loving God allow earthquakes, volcanoes and natural disasters? Professor Robert White FRS, Cambridge geophysicist and co-founder of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, joins Professor Andrew C. Scott to explore a remarkable life in science and faith. From revolutionary discoveries about the Earth's moving continents and dangerous experiments at sea to his personal journey to Christianity, White reveals why he believes science and faith belong together. He also explores the surprising findings of research into how people respond to devastating disasters, and why faith can sometimes grow stronger in the face of unimaginable suffering. Part of Journeys in Science and Faith.

What happens when a scientist's commitment to faith takes him from the laboratories of Oxford to the turmoil of the Middle East? In this extraordinary conversation, Professor Andrew C. Scott meets molecular biologist Dr Denis Alexander, co-founder of Cambridge's Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. Denis recounts helping establish a Christian community in Turkey before being forced to leave, working with children suffering from rare genetic diseases in Lebanon, and experiencing three evacuations from Beirut. He also explores the questions that have shaped his life's work. Is evolution compatible with Christianity? Why do so many people see science and faith as enemies? And what can science tell us about the ethical challenges of genetic engineering and artificial intelligence? A fascinating personal journey through scientific discovery, danger and Christian conviction. Journeys in Science and Faith explores the lives of scientists whose pursuit of knowledge has intersected with questions of belief and meaning.

What began as a New Year's resolution on a Scottish beach became a campaign that helped change British law. Environmental scientist Laura Anderson (Young), known to thousands online as Less Waste Laura, joins Professor Andrew C. Scott to share her remarkable journey from student environmentalist to influential climate campaigner. Laura reveals how spotting discarded disposable vapes led her to campaign for a nationwide ban, including the extraordinary moment she decided to email every councillor in Scotland. But her story is also one of faith. Raised in a Christian family, Laura describes wrestling with her beliefs at university and discovering how studying environmental science deepened her appreciation of God's creation. Together they explore climate change, plastic pollution, social justice, the responsibilities of the Church and why caring for the planet is inseparable from caring for people. An inspiring conversation about curiosity, conviction and the power of one person to make a difference. Journeys in Science and Faith, hosted by Professor Andrew C. Scott.

Can you be a world-leading scientist and believe in God? Sir Ghillean Prance has spent a lifetime exploring the Amazon rainforest, discovering extraordinary plants and helping protect the natural world. As former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he helped establish the Millennium Seed Bank and shape the Eden Project. But behind his remarkable scientific career lies a deeply personal story of faith. In this episode of Journeys in Science and Faith, Professor Andrew C. Scott discovers how a young botanist found Christianity at Oxford, ventured deep into the Amazon, worked alongside Indigenous communities and missionary pilots, and came to believe that his faith was central to his scientific achievements. From medicinal plants and rainforest expeditions to conservation, Darwin and the future of our planet, Sir Ghillean shares why he believes science and faith belong together. "I wouldn't have gone this far in my botanical career if it wasn't for the stability of my Christian faith." Journeys in Science and Faith — extraordinary scientists, remarkable discoveries and the beliefs that shaped their lives. New episodes every Thursday.

In this episode, Professor Andrew C. Scott speaks with Professor Rev. David Wilkinson about his journey through science and faith. David Wilkinson is an astrophysicist, theologian, Methodist minister, and former Principal of St John’s College, Durham. He is also a professor in Durham University’s Department of Theology and Religion, a director of Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. The conversation explores his work at the intersection of cosmology, theology, and Christian ministry, reflecting on how scientific discovery can deepen rather than diminish faith. Andrew and David discuss wonder, creation, vocation, and how Christians can engage confidently with science today.