Newman wins £1.8m grant to study science and religion

A Catholic university has secured a £1.8 million grant to research the relationship between science and religion, writes Christopher Lamb.

Newman University in Birmingham has been awarded the money by the Templeton Religion Trust to lead a 33-month project looking at public understanding of evolutionary science, science education in faith schools, the “new atheism”, creationist debates and how faith groups engage with science. 

Newman will establish a research group with academics from York University, Canada and the University of Kent, along with the National Life Stories programme at the British Library.