“La ciencia es uno de los pilares de la cultura humana. Desafortunadamente, la ciencia se presenta a menudo como si estuviese en conflicto con la religión, lo cual revela una profunda y dañina confusión epistemológica. Muy por el contrario, lo cierto es que la religión puede nutrirse de la ciencia. Ahora se nos presenta una excelente oportunidad para planificar un congreso internacional con actores relevantes – facultades de seminarios y candidatos al sacerdocio de la Iglesia Católica – para promover conversaciones informadas sobre el diálogo entre ciencia y religión. El potencial para que se produzca un cambio en la comprensión de las positivas relaciones entre estas dos disciplinas es algo real y significativo, lo que de ocurrir sería algo extremadamente bienvenido”.
“Science is one of the pillars of human culture. Unfortunately, science is often presented as if it were in conflict with religion which reveals a profound and harmful epistemological confusion. Quite the opposite, in fact, is true: religion can be nurtured by science. Now comes along an exceptional opportunity to plan an international conference for an influential constituency – seminary faculties and candidates for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church – to enable informed conversation between science and religion to take place. The potential for a shift in understanding the positive relationship between these two disciplines is significant, realistic, and something to be welcomed wholeheartedly.”
Rafael Vicuña
Universidad Católica de Chile
Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Biography
Rafael Vicuña holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (1978) and was elected to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2001. He is currently a member of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile where he served, formerly, as dean of research and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, responsible for the coordination of research activities of the university’s eighteen different Faculties.
Professor Vicuña’s interest in science began as a high school graduate in Chile at a time in Latin America when scientific research was not regarded as a worthwhile academic pursuit. His conviction that scientific research is the bedrock of intellectual autonomy and economic progress encouraged him to break new ground by pursuing studies in the field, something he did once again several years later when he joined other scientists who thought the time was right for Latin American scholars to address the key questions of science and religion.
After a Guggenheim Fellowship in Madison, Wisconsin, Dr. Vicuña’s research interest turned to the biodegradation of lignin. Because lignin is the second most abundant deposit of organic carbon in the biosphere, its metabolism is a key component of the carbon cycle on earth. At the lignin laboratory research has uncovered novel mechanisms involved in the breakdown of this polymer, as well as biotechnological applications especially for the pulp and paper industry and environmentally-friendly connections have been established with local companies. A few years ago, Dr. Vicuña started a new research project dealing with the microbiology of the Atacama Desert, an environment considered a good model of Mars due to its high aridity and UV radiation.
Additionally, Professor Vicuña has special interests in the origin of life and human evolution. The Human Genome Project and its ethical and social implications have also commanded his ongoing attention.
For full c.v.: http://www.bio.puc.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10863:rafael-vicuna&catid=35&Itemid=141