RS Lectures
R.S. students meet Professor Jocelyn Bell-Burnell
The R.S. Department would like to thank Eleanor Kershaw-Green very much for giving some of our GCSE girls a wonderful opportunity to hear Professor Jocelyn Bell- Burnell the world famous astro-physicist. As part of their GCSE course they have a unit on Religion and Science so this was perfect timing as only last week some of those who attended the lecture saw her on a Religion and Science programme in their R.S. lessons!!! After addressing the 6th form she graciously agreed to stay behind and chat to some of our Year 11 girls and answer any questions on reconciling religion and science and offering an insight into her Quaker beliefs, the place of miracles, life after death to name but a few.
Clearly our girls found it a memorable occasion and here are some comments from the Year 11’s:
“Meeting Professor Bell – Burnell was really inspiring. Her views on how science and religion can co-exist and where contradiction seems to occur, supported our learning in Religious Studies”
“ Despite being highly intelligent and holding many academic qualifications as well as assisting in Nobel Prize research with Anthony Huish, she was very down to earth, approachable and open to our questions. It widened my understanding of how religion and science can work together…. She also gave her thoughts on issues such as IVF, designer babies, evolution and the origins of the universe which was fascinating”
“ She explained her views as a scientist and having to rethink her views about God and how science can be incorporated into a faith. It was interesting to hear how her thoughts on science had not really changed but her views on God had.”
“She showed us a more liberal view of faith and gave us real insight into being a Quaker and a scientist. It was inspiring to meet the lady who has made important scientific discoveries and her views have helped me to understand how religion and science can be reconciled with each other.”
“ I found it interesting that she believed in a personal God and that sometimes “the little nudges” she felt in life to go in a particular direction could not be explained apart from a being outside herself. She was also very calm and kind and we enjoyed the talk very much”
“It was a brilliant opportunity to hear her, as it allowed us to see how someone’s faith affects their profession. Her talk has sparked many questions and has given us lots of ideas to incorporate into our R.S exams!”
