In my last blog, I sketched out what my Riddell Memorial Lectures were about. “Curb Your Technological Enthusiasm: When should we be tech-prudent?” was my title. My basic point was that we need to draw upon relevant scientific study of cultural evolution in order to better anticipate which new technologies (broadly construed) are likely to […]
The Problem With Fast Spreading Technology
Recently I was on a bus in Dublin, Ireland in conversation with a European professor. We’ve known each other for many years but see each other infrequently. As part of catching up, I shared with him that earlier in the year I spoke at Newcastle University (England) for their annual Riddell Memorial Lectures. “Curb Your […]
Aging Dementia and the 2024 Presidential Race
On a recent trip I arrived at my destination airport and was greeted by a driver who was picking up several of us going to the same meeting. Quickly I was seated next to a medical school professor who has written multiple books on caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease. To my surprise, he mentioned […]
Why is it so Important to be an Integrated Person?
One scientist wakes up in the morning, easily faces another day of invigorating, engaging work. This scientist sees what they do as well-aligned with personal values, identity, and purpose. Another scientist awakes dreading the meaninglessness of the day ahead, wondering whether the work is worth the effort and struggling to see how it matters to […]
Letter from the President: Integrated People, Churches, and Inquiry
In November 2023, Blueprint 1543 hosted a reception in conjunction with the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting, in San Antonio, Texas. While there we got to catch up with a number of colleagues over beverages and meals. At one such informal gathering, folks who we were meeting for the first time […]
Letter From the President: Why Settle for Mediocre Events? (Part 2)
Not too long ago, Blueprint 1543 helped with the design and facilitation of a multi-day, interdisciplinary academic workshop. Based upon the reactions of the project leader and the participants, we regarded the event as a great success and were gratified that we could help. But every time we do an event, we take the time […]
Letter From the President: Why Settle for Mediocre Events? (Part 1)
Early this year, after a private workshop that Blueprint 1543 designed and facilitated, a colleague asked me whether Blueprint could also be contracted to do public events. He had hosted a lackluster event designed and administered by his university’s events department and wondered if there was a better way for his grant-supported work to have […]
Letter from the Prez:“Science” Shouldn’t Be a Political Weapon
September 14, 2022, Nature, a leading science publication, ran a story by Jeff Tollefson with the headline, “Inside the US Supreme Court’s war on science.” I would be surprised if, as the author claimed, the six Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court (and only those six) have declared war on “science.” This article gave me […]
Fall 2020: Letter from the President
Blueprint 1543’s mission is to support scholars and thought leaders in leaving aside unnecessary dichotomies and bringing the best tools of inquiry to problems like these. We are working toward more integrated scholars and scholarship.
Spring 2020: Letter from the President
Calamity has a way of putting priorities into focus. When this COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, it will be in large part because of God’s grace working through science-trained professionals: epidemiologists, chemists, biotech engineers, as well as doctors, nurses, and many others. In hindsight, we’ll learn more about what went well and what didn’t in […]
