THE ST. PETERSBURG SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

There were different events that happened within the framework of SPECRS (see SPECRS News) There were special seminars organized by SPECRS, in which participated not only the group of volunteers acquainted by the time of the conference 2000 and 2001, but also scientists and scholars specially invited to speak at the seminars of SPECRS or to participate as disputants.

To learn more about different types of SPECRS activities look at the titles of the events, organizations, time and places of the events, names of the main speakers and some characteristics of the participants:

2004

january	28th Annual Presidents Conference, February 1-3, 2004 in Arlington, Virginia - SPECRS presentation by Dr.Natalia Pecherskaya
February	Round Table "Science and Theology: Two Ontological Paradigms" at the European Humanities University (EHU) in Minsk, Belarus in cooperation with prof.Andrei Danilov, the Head of the Chair of Religious Studies, Theology Department of EHU, and Rev. Alexander Shymbalev and Dr. Grogori Dovgyuallo, Director of Saints Methodius and Cyrill Christian Educational Center. Moderator - Dr.Natalia Pecherskaya (SPECRS) (SPECRS News, Newsletter 02-04)
March	Visit from Prof. Ron Engel, Professor Emeritus of Social and Environmental Ethics, Meadville-Lombard Theological School (University of Chicago affiliate), Center for Humans and Nature (New York City and Chicago)
April	Round Table meeting “Religion and Science as Two Ways of Interpreting the World: the Shared Hermeneutical Problem” with (over 30) post-graduate students of St. Petersburg research institutions belonging to the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Lectures: Prof. Dr. Dr. A.G. Chernyakov, SPECRS, The Hermeneutical Problem in Science and Theology, Dr. I. I. Avksent’evsky, St. Petersburg State University, Department of Philosophy, The Existential Dimension of Faith, and the postgraduate student Ms. I.E. Barykina, The Institute of History, RAS, On the Russian State Politics in Religious Education. (see (SPECRS News, Newsletter 02-04 Dr. Pecherskaya is interviewed at “Radio Russia” with a potential audience numbering more then 100,000 listeners. The broadcast was dated for the Easter and dedicated to the problems of science-religion dialogue. Dr. Pecherskaya presents the SPECRS approach and accounts for the Metanexus Institute and LSI Programs and activities. SPECRS consultation with representatives from Kazan (Tatar) Dr. Charisov and Dr. Poroshenko who are promoting the work of Victor Nesmelov (1863-1937), scientist, thinker, philosopher and theologian, who was persecuted during the Stalin’s regime because of his views. SPECRS supports the intentions of the Kazan colleague by writing an official letter to the mayor of Kazan and the President of Tatarstan M. Shaymiev welcomes the idea of the restoring Professor Nesmelov’s house for memorial cultural, scientific and religious purposes. The project is scheduled for the thousandth anniversary of Kazan (2005).
MAY	Conference of the Inter-School Society for Research in the Humanities, Dr. Pecherskaya maps the most important points of the Science-Religion dialogue in Russia. More than 50 senior students from 24 Schools of St. Petersburg and their teachers participate in this event.
JUNE	Metanexus 2004 Annual Conference “Science and Religion in Context” – attended by Dr. Pecherskaya SPECRS Organizing Committee members met the representatives of GPSS (Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality), Dr. Pranab Das and Mr. Tom Mackenzie, and their colleague from the United Kingdom, Dr. Andrei Nesteruk. This presentation is followed by a vivid discussion concerning topical points of the science-religion interface.
JULY	Translation into Russian of the article by William Grassie “Ten Reasons for the Constructive Engagement of Science and Religion”
AUGUST	Presenting the paper “Analysis of the science and religion interface as a theoretical and methodological basis for modernization in education and for an elaboration of the new educational programs” by N. Pecherskaya at the SPECRS meeting.
SEPTEMBER	Presentation of the paper “Existential Meaning of Faith” by Dr. Igor Avksent’evsky at the SPECRS meeting
OCTOBER	Writing the article “The Role of the Science and Religion Interface in Forming the Image of Science in the 21st century” (in Russian) by N. Pecherskaya and A. Chernyakov for the international conference in Tambov “Science at the Break of the Threshold“, 29-30 October 2004, at the Tambov State Technical University SPECRS seminar and presentation "Beauty and the Theory of Mathematical Intellect" by Dr. Leonid Perlovsky (Boston, USA). SPECRS participation in scientific discussion “Destiny of science in Russia” in the frame of the jubilee celebration of St.Petersburg Association of Scientists and Scholars’
NOVEMBER	E-mail discussion between SPECRS and the initiative group from Kazan (chairperson - Prof. Vladimir Kinosjan)on the issues of humanitarian expertise of constructing the means of dialogue between science and religion
DECEMBER	Dr. Chernyakov and the priest Rev. Georgi (Ioffe), the head of the Missionary Department of the St. Petersburg Eparchy, were interviewed at “Radio Russia” in the frame of broadcasting “Conversations with a priest” (ed. Olga Afanas’eva) on the themes of the science and religion interface (1^st interview in the planned series).

2003

january	Prof. Dr. A. Oleskin. Moscow State University, Head of Biopolitics Sector, “Christian Biopolitics”.
February	Mr. Kyrill Suvorov, Representatives of the Youth Labor Exchange in St Petersburg, Mr. Alexander Pecherskay, Consulting Company “Alt”, Mr. Igor Shelukhin, “SMC-Russia”, Mr. Alexander Chugunov, St.Petersburg Exhibition Complex for Space Equipment, Mr. Vadim Riskov, Representative of “VOLVO” in St Petersburg. Round Table “Present Management and the Problems of Spiritual Development: Points of Interface”. Prof. Dr. A. Goman’kov, Senior Researcher, Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow). “The Scripture and Paleontology”.
March	Prof. Dr. A. Pavlenko. Chief Researcher, Sector of Philosophical Problems of the History of Science of the Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences. “Orthodoxy in Terms of the Overwhelming Principle of ‘Rational Exhaustibility of the World’
	Mrs. Irina Shalina , Senior Researche, (SRPh, State Russian Museum). “Science on Ancient Byzantine and Russian Icons”. Prof. Dr. S. Chebanov, Vice-Rector on science, (SRPh, SPECRS)- organizer of the Conference “An Attempt of Non-fiction Hermeneutics”
April	Dr. N. Pecherskaya (SRPh, SPECRS). “Spiritual Dimension of Education” (Radio “Russia”) Prof.Dr. Sergei Chebanov (SRPh, SPECRS)– the organizer of the Conference “The new stage of the general semiotics: the input of techno and bio-semiotics” (co-sponsor: Russian Foundation of Fundamental Research) Mr. B. Panich. Senior Assistant, Department of Arts, (SRPh). Presentation of the project “Assembly of the City Students Scientific Conferences” in the frame of “Association for the Research in the Humanities for a Young People” Prof. Dr. K. Kull (Tartu University, Estonia). Leader of the roundtable “Teaching Semiotics as a Special and Basic Element of the Curriculum at the University”. Mr. B. Panich. Senior Assistant, Department of Arts, (SRPh). Presentation of the project “Assembly of the City Students Scientific Conferences” in the frame of “Association for the Research in the Humanities for a Young People” (co-sponsor: Committee for Science and Higher Education of the Administration of St.Petersburg)
May	Prof. Dr. G. Benevich, Chairperson of the Department of Religious Studies, (SRPh, SPECRS). “Methods of Science and Theology”. Mr. Ilya Zeitlin, Secretary of “Assembly of the City Students Scientific Conferences”. Report on the Assembly and planning for the future SPECRS projects. Dr. Natalia Pecherskaya. On the SPECRS final report to CTNS. SPECRS strategic tasks.
OCTOBER	Rostov-on-Don (Russia). SPECRS Round table “Science and Faith” within the framework of the Conference “The Ways of Cognition: Similarities and Distinctions”, organized by the Club of Practical Philosophy (Rostov) with the support of “Stella” Joint-Stock Commercial Bank. Moderator - Prof. Dr. A. Chernyakov (SPECRS) (SPECRS News, Newsletter 10)
AUGUST	The collection of the papers presented during SPECRS sessions has been published under the title “Science and Faith”, vol. 6 (SPECRS publications). The authors are leading scholars from Russia and Eastern European countries.
November	St. Petersburg Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences. SPECRS Round Table “The Perspectives of Science-Religion Interface and the Possible Shifts in Humanities” together with Coordinative Council (Chairperson - Dr. Leo Borkin, zoologist) and the Academic Council (Chairperson - Prof.Dr. Michail Libenson, laser physicist) of St. Petersburg Association of Scientists and Scholars (SPASS) at St.Petersburg Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences. Moderator - Prof. Dr. A. Chernyakov (SPECRS) (SPECRS News, Newsletter 11)
DECEMBER	December 1, 2003 - St. Petersburg, Center of St. Petersburg Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences. SPECRS Round Table “The Perspectives of Science-Religion Interface and the Possible Shifts in Humanities” together with Coordinative Council (Chairperson - Dr. Leo Borkin, zoologist) and the Academic Council (Chairperson - Prof.Dr. Michail Libenson, laser physicist) of St. Petersburg Association of Scientists and Scholars (SPASS) at St.Petersburg Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences.

2002

APRIL	Prof. Dr. A.G. Chernyakov, St. Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy (SRPh, SPECRS). Lecture presentation at SPECRS “Inter-disciplinary and Inter-paradigmatic Problems”
	Prof. Dr. Alexander Govorunov (St.Petersburg State University). “The problem of man and interdisciplinary research”
	Prof. Dr. Alexander Isakov (St.Petersburg State University). “The Concept of Consciousness within the Context of Interdisciplinary Research”
	Prof. Dr. Vyacheslav Sukhachev (St.Petersburg State University). “The Philosophy of Multidisciplinary Study of Social Phenomena”
MAY	Dr. Natalia Pecherskaya, Rector, (SRPh). “Faith and Knowledge”(at the radio “Echo Peterburga”)
	Dr. Pecherskaya (SRPh). Consultation in Kazan (CIS, Tatarstan) with the staff of Tatar-American University: “Problems of Science and Faith Dialog within the University Curricula”
JUNE	Dr. N. Pecherskaya. Prof. Dr. G. Benevitch, Prof.Dr. A. Chernyakov (SRPh, SPECRS), Prof.Dr. V. Karpunin (St.Petersburg State University). Round table “Science and Faith” (at the radio station “Maria”).
JULY AUGUST	Dr. N. Pecherskaya (SRPh, SPECRS). “The Content of the CTNS Project and the Activities of the SPECRS” (at the radio station “Grad Petrov”) Prof. Dr. M.Uvarov, Dr. N. Jerve, Dr. G. Benevich (SRPh, SPECRS), SRPh students Juri Grigoriev, Karina Mamaligo. Presentations during the International Conference “God’s Word for Academy”, organized by the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE), at the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University, Budapest, Hungary Dr. N.Pecherskaya and Prof. Dr. A.Chernyakov (SRPh. SPECRS) were invited to participate in the Consultations “Visiting scientific and religious imagination anew”, organized by the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, MN, USA Prof. Dr. M.Uvarov (State University of St. Petersburg). “Anthropological paradigms of the 20^th century, their limits and perspectives"
september	Dr. G. Benevich , Prof. Dr.S.Chebanov, Prof. Dr. A.Chernyakov, Dr. N. Pecherskaya (SRPh, SPECRS). “What is Supernatural from the Point of Science and Faith (natural and evident)” ( at the radio station “Maria”) Mr. G. Shkurko. Bank Council Chairman, “Creditimpex Bank”(Moscow). Consultations on “Church and State Relations and Social Doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church”.
October	Mr. B. Panich. Senior Assistant, Department of Art, (SRPh). Presentation of the Research Project “Association for the Research in the Humanities for a Young People” Prof. Dr. S. Chebanov, Prof. Dr. G. Benevitch, Prof. Dr. A. Chernyakov (SRPh, SPECRS). Round table “Historical types of interaction between science and faith” (at the radio station “Maria”)
November	Dr. V. Nayshul. Director, Institute of the National Model of Economics (Moscow) “Contemporary Economics and Orthodoxy”
December	Prof. Dr. A. Garin. G.C.Marshall Center of Security Studies (Germany) “Intercultural and Scientific Connections in Modern Europe: Social and Politological Aspect”.