Brag - Spring2023

NASH
Memorial Lecture Returns
BY DR. DAWN FLOOD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT CAMPION COLLEGE
PHOTOS BY BRANDI KLEIN
The Nash Memorial
Lecture Series was
founded in 1979 to
honour the first
President of Campion
College, Dr. Peter W.
Nash, SJ. This event
welcomes distinguished
scholars from North
America and around
the world to make a
significant contribution
to the academic life
of the university and
community. It was a
pleasure to hold in
person once again,
this premier event at
Campion College.
After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus,
Campion College welcomed around 100
campus and community supporters—with
additional viewers zooming in—to the 41st
Annual Nash Memorial Lecture, delivered by
Dr. Robert J. Allore, SJ. Dr. Allore comes to us
from Vancouver, where he serves as pastor of
St. Mark’s Parish, chaplain to the University
of British Columbia, and Adjunct Professor
of Theology at St. Mark’s College at UBC.
Dr. Allore’s research background as a scientist
investigating the genetics of nervous system
development, and his theology training with
the Society of Jesus combined to shape his
enlightening lecture on “Science, Religion, and
the Search for a Christian Anthropology”.
Dr. Allore began the lecture by suggesting
that science and religion are not oppositional
practices. Indeed, he argues that, in a way,
science is a religious activity in that scientists
spend time seeking truth about the natural
world, and that it is a meditative privilege to
be able to contemplate, on a deep level, the
mysteries of the natural world. Spiritual faith
demands reflection, as does science. Rather
than being in competition, these distinct areas
of inquiry should work in dialogue to best
move forward in service of an increasingly
complex world.
Using examples including an in-depth look
at the Human Genome Project, an ongoing
research project launched in 1995 in an
effort to sequence human genomes in order
to better understand the study of human
biology, Dr. Allore highlighted the excitement
of discovery surrounding this research,
which former U.S. President Bill Clinton
described as “learning the language in which
God created life.” Technological advances
allow for near-total sequencing quickly and
easily today, leading to a number of ethical,
legal, and social issues that potentially arise
out of understanding human life at this
fundamental level. Genome-based research
also enables medical researchers in the
development of more specific and effective
diagnostics and therapeutics, which are
currently being employed in cancer research.
Dr. Allore asks, “how do we integrate
this new information personally, and as
communities of faith, especially considering
that such hi-tech research is not readily
available to all nations of the world, and
how best to democratize the benefits of such
research?”
More than just a theoretical dilemma,
Dr. Allore compares such questions about
genome research with ethical concerns
surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and
vaccines. He praised the gifts of science for
quick vaccine development, and pondered
issues of vaccine justice/access while
wondering how political leaders and health
experts might address ongoing issues of
vaccine hesitancy and the need for education
that acknowledges and respects people’s
questions and faiths. Placing his broader
scientific research into this timely context
truly brought home the point of his lecture
about the need for science and religion to
remain in dialogue to handle the increasing
challenges global society must face as we
move toward a better future.
18 Brag | VOL. THIRTY-FOUR | SPRING 2023
Campion College
Campion College Brag | VOL. THIRTY-FOUR | SPRING 2023
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