Hacking at the Vatican?!

Can you combine 2,000 years of deep, Catholic tradition with something as modern as hacking?

For our next guest, Fr. Eric Salobir, the answer was most certainly, “Yes!”

Fr. Salobir helped to organize the first-ever “hackathon” at the Vatican where groups of students from 62 universities from around the world, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT and many more, “hacked” ideas that could help humanity in three key areas: Fostering inter-religious dialogue, helping the poor and underprivileged people, and supporting refugees and migrants.

In our interview with Fr. Salobir, he talks about this event and how his organization, OPTIC Technology, is building a network of the top thinkers, scientists, religious leaders, high-tech leaders to discuss ways we can use technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) for good of humanity.

He also talks about a recent panel he participated in that included Max Tegmark, PhD of MIT where Dr. Tegmark boldly stated that we shouldn’t be “carbon chauvinists.” We discuss the promise and pitfalls of AI, how values might be embedded into AI, and how we seek to ensure these values will align with our Christian values.

Join us for this fascinating and fun adventure from the Vatican to AI and beyond!

Fr. Eric Salobir is a Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Dominican Order and he is in charge of the media and technology for the Dominicans. He is also the founder of OPTIC Technologies, which is a network, founded within the Catholic Church, which promotes research and innovation and various technology fields, basing its work on a Christian viewpoint, looking at disruptive technologies and the ways that they could help humanity, along with some of the ethical concerns with these technologies. He's also a consultant for the Pontifical Council of Communication as well as an expert for the delegation of the Holy See at UNESCO. He teaches digital communication at Catholic University of Paris and he's a graduate of ISC Paris Business School and worked at the French Embassy in Prague and also worked in banking for a while. He joined the Order of Dominicans in 2000 and graduated in theology and philosophy. He travels the world speaking on many important technology conferences and panels on topics like internet security, AI, trans-humanism and other disruptive technologies.

** For a transcript of this interview, visit our website:**

https://www.purposenation.org/father-eric-salobir-podcast-transcript

Fr. Salobir’s Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsalobir/en

More about OPTIC Technology:

http://optictechnology.org/index.php/en/

Watch the panel discussion at MIT that included Fr. Salobir and Max Tegmark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YotVoOFDlP8

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

www.purposenation.org/

Elon Musk has created a $1B initiative to help develop direct brain-to-computer interfaces.

While this line of research holds promise to help those suffering from serious brain disorders and paralysis, it also raises all new ethical concerns.

In this fascinating podcast interview, we talk with leading neurosurgeon, research scientist, professor and Catholic Christian, Dr. Robert Buchanan, about this line of research and about his amazing work in treating debilitating and life-threatening brain disorders.

Dr. Buchanan is an associate professor at the University of Texas and the Director of Epilepsy Surgery and Deep Brain Stimulation at Seton Brain and Spine Institute in Austin, Texas. He is also the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Seton family of hospitals as well as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Seton Brain and Spine Institute.

He also was appointed by Pope Benedict and re-appointed by Pope Francis to serve on the Vatican's International Bioethics Committee (IBC), also called the Pontifical Academy for Life.

On top of all of this, Dr. Buchanan is also a devout Catholic and family man.

Join us as we discuss his amazing work in putting electrodes directly on and deep inside the brain in order to both read the brain's signals as well as to stimulate the brain. Through these methods, Dr. Buchanan is able ease and cure seizures and other symptoms caused by brain disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and psychiatric disorders.

We also explore how he and his collaborating team have developed some ground-breaking techniques in brain-computer research -- work that has caught the attention of Elon Musk and others.

Dr. Buchanan also shares what lead him from a path to priesthood to his current calling and vocation. He walks us through how his faith connects to and supports his difficult work and how he sees it as a means for Christians to help to heal “Christ’s suffering body” here on Earth.

Dr. Robert Buchanan’s biography:

https://www.seton.net/brain-and-spine-care/providers/bio/robert-buchanan

Learn more about the Vatican Academy for Life and Vatican Museum exhibition and Dr. Buchanan's commentary on the Trophime Bigot painting, "Irene Cares for Sebastian" (see pages 14-15 of the PDF):

http://www.academyforlife.va/content/dam/pav/documents/catalogo%20mostra%20ENG.pdf

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

www.purposenation.org/

Can't Christians just get along when it comes to science and faith?

Please join us for this engaging and important conversation that all Christians need to hear!

For more than 30 years, Hugh Ross, PhD and his organization, Reasons to Believe, have been dedicated to integrating scientific fact and biblical faith. They seek to demonstrate, via a variety of books, resources and in-person events, that science and faith are allies, not enemies.

Dr. Ross is a best-selling author and his books include “Why the Universe Is the Way It Is,” “Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job,” “Navigating Genesis,” and “Creator and the Cosmos.”

He has done many TV appearances, debates and travels the globe speaking on the compatibility of advancing scientific discoveries with the timeless truths of Christianity.

In this podcast episode, we discuss the importance of using both of God’s “books” of revelation to equip and enlighten Christians and to bring others to faith in Christ. Dr. Ross discusses how science can be used to explore God’s Creation (aka His “Book of Nature”) to point people to God’s other revelation, the Book of Scripture (The Bible) and vice versa.

Dr. Ross also discusses how many atheists have come to Christ through this work and how youth need to hear these messages through a Christian church that hears their questions and engages them in a dialog.

We also discuss how Christians can often come to blows over non-essential issues in science and how this is not always helpful to our cause. At the same time, Dr. Ross also sees encouraging signs that we are starting to treat each other with love, gentleness and mutual respect.

Dr. Ross’ Biography:

https://reasons.org/about/hugh-ross/

Reasons to Believe:

https://www.reasons.org/

AMP Conference (mentioned in the interview):

http://www.ampconference.com/

Dr. Ross’ books and videos:

https://shop.reasons.org/

Reasons to Believe’s “Creation Model” (mentioned in the interview):

https://reasons.org/about/creation-model-approach

Full transcript of the interview:

https://www.purposenation.org/hugh-ross-phd-reasons-to-believe-podcast-transcript

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

www.purposenation.org/

Do our kids need shoes of iron?

Studies show that many young Catholics and other Christians leave the Church by the time they finish college. One of the main reasons they leave is that they are not getting sufficiently satisfying answers to key questions they have regarding the compatibility of faith and science…questions about what the church and science have to say about the existence of God, about an immortal soul and about the life and resurrection of Jesus.

Join us as we explore these important topics and more with Father Robert J. Spitzer, SJ, PhD, President of the Magis Center and the Spitzer Center.

Father Spitzer and the team at the Magis Center have been working hard to provide apologetics, information and resources that help students, parents, churches and educators to get the answers they need.

Father Spitzer is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, former President of Gonzaga University. He is the founder and President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith and he is also President of the Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership.

He has made many TV appearances including: Larry King Live debating Stephen Hawking, the Today Show, The History Channel in “God and The Universe,” a multiple part PBS series “Closer to the Truth,” and the Hugh Hewitt Show.

Currently he is appearing weekly on EWTN in “Father Spitzer’s Universe“ where he covers a lot of great topics, including those of science and faith.

He’s written many great books which you may find on the Magis Center website.

Father Spitzer has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (magna cum laude) from Gonzaga University, a Master's degree in Philosophy from St. Louis University (magna cum laude), a Master of Divinity degree from the Gregorian University in Rome (summa cum laude), a Master of Theology degree in Scripture from the Weston School, now the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (summa cum laude) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Catholic University of America (summa cum laude). Father Spitzer is also the Rector of Junípero Serra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Website links:

https://www.magiscenter.com/

https://www.crediblecatholic.com/

http://www.ewtn.com/frspitzersuniverse/index.asp

Father Spitzer’s Biography pages:

https://www.magiscenter.com/meet-fr-spitzer/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Spitzer_(priest)

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

Is it possible to find life on distant planets without ever visiting them?

Can God work through a single reading of a book to bring someone to faith? Are secular institutions like Harvard supportive of a scientist who happens to be a Christian and a woman?

Join us as we explore these questions and more in our interview with Astronomer and Astrochemist Professor Karin Öberg, PhD.

Professor Öberg is a Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University and she is using sophisticated new instruments to uncover the secrets of life’s building blocks in new planet formation.

She has a BS in Chemistry from Caltech and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Leiden. Prof. Oberg has also been the recipient of many awards and fellowships, including the AAS Newton Lacy Pierce Prize, the Packard Fellowship and the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship.

Books mentioned in the interview:

https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/130/pg130-images.html

Prof. Oberg’s Biography pages:

https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/karin-oberg

https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~koberg/Karin_Oberg.html

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

Interstellar travel within our lifetimes?

iPhone microchips riding on laser beams? Are Christians behind the curve in accepting scientific theories?

Join us for an engaging discussion on these topics and more with Christian Physicist Prof. Gerald Cleaver, PhD.

Dr. Cleaver (“Jerry”) is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Dept. of Physics, and Division Head at the Center for Astrophysics, at Baylor University. There he directs the Early Universe Cosmology and Strings (EUCOS) division of Baylor University’s Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER).

He has written over 100 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier research journals and conference proceedings and he co-authored a book and chapters for other books.

Prof. Cleaver earned his Ph.D. at Caltech in 1993, where he studied under John H. Schwarz, one of the founders of string theory.

His research focuses on elementary particles, fundamental forces, and superstring theory.

Book mentioned in the interview:

https://www.amazon.com/Frontiers-Propulsion-Progress-Astronautics-Aeronautics/dp/1563479567

Dr. Cleaver’s Biography:

https://www.baylor.edu/physics/index.php?id=68540

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-cleaver-4a074439/

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

What does success look like for a VC-backed, Silicon Valley technology start-up?

Usually, success means strong revenue growth, a thriving customer base, media accolades and other traditional measures.

For Victor Ho and his company, FiveStars, success means something very different.

Join us for a great conversation with Victor, the CEO of San Francisco-based start-up, FiveStars.

Listen to his amazing story of humility, faith, obedience and building a values-based tech company in the heart of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

See Victor's biography here:

https://www.fivestars.com/about-us/

Get the FiveStars app here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fivestars/id797196750

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivestars.FiveStarsConsumer

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

What is a Gold Mass? Who are the Society of Catholic Scientists?

Join us for an encouraging and fun talk with Catholic Physicist Prof. Stephen Barr, PhD that took place on November 15, 2017, which was the same day as the Feast of St. Albert the Great who is the Patron Saint of Scientists.

We also discussed the brand new “Gold Mass” tradition that also takes place on November 15 that he and some colleagues started to honor Catholic Scientists. We also discussed many fascinating physics theories that Prof. Barr is hard at work on.

Dr. Barr is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Delaware and Director of its Bartol Research Institute.

He does research in theoretical particle physics, especially grand unified theories, theories of CP violation, neutrino oscillations, and particle cosmology.

He also has a PhD. in Physics from Princeton University and he is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Dr. Barr and his work has appeared in First Things, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, EWTN and many other news outlets.

He is one of the co-founders who started a great new group that encourages and brings together Catholic scientists:

https://www.catholicscientists.org/

Dr. Barr has a great book that explores the intersections of faith and science, which we highly recommend...

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith:

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-Ancient-Faith-Stephen/dp/0268034710/

We also discuss his thoughts on miracles and the things we might do to encourage more Christians to pray for a calling in science.

Dr. Barr’s Biography:

http://web.physics.udel.edu/about/directory/faculty/stephen-barr

View the full interview transcript:

http://www.purposenation.org/stephen-barr-phd-podcast-transcript

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)3 Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

Are we in need of a new revolution at the intersection of faith and science, reminiscent of the first Scientific Revolution of the 1500's?

Do we need to have followers of Christ once again being instrumental in driving science forward?

Our latest podcast guest, Stacy Trasancos, PhD, seems to think so... and so do we!

Join us for a great conversation with this former DuPont Chemist turned Catholic author, homeschool & online teacher and mother of seven.

Hear about her journey starting with the wonder of science in childhood, to falling away from faith in a fast-paced lifestyle to returning to faith and "having it all" in a new life in Christ.

She has a fascinating journey and a unique calling in working to foster confidence among Catholics and other Christians when thinking about science & faith issues.

Listen today and be sure to check out her great book, Particles of Faith: A Catholic Guide to Navigating Science:

https://www.avemariapress.com/product/1-59471-657-9/Particles-of-Faith/

Dr. Stacy Trasancos' biography & website:

http://www.stacytrasancos.com/about-stacy-trasancos/

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)3 Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/

When will we get light sabers and land speeders anyway?

Join us for a fun conversation with Catholic Prof. Michael Dennin, PhD about what he thinks about aliens and whether they ever visited earth or built the great pyramids.

Prof. Dennin is a physicist at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and has been a part of shows like Spider-man Tech, Batman Tech and Star Wars Tech where he provided insights into the physics behind many of the cool gadgets and superpowers on display in these popular sci-fi series.

He has also been part of the long-running “Ancient Aliens” series on the History Channel:

http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-aliens

We also discuss his “day job” as a physicist and researcher at UCI, including researching complex biological and physical systems.

Prof. Dennin has a unique and compelling perspective on the intersection of faith and science and he written a great book on the subject, which we highly recommend...

Divine Science: Finding Reason at the Heart of Faith:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01591OEV0/

We also discuss his thoughts on miracles and the things we might do to encourage more Christians to pray for a calling in science.

Prof. Dennin’s Biography:

https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=4842

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and find our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or your favorite podcasting application:

http://www.purposenation.org/podcast/

Visit our website for more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit 501(c)3 Christian ministry:

http://www.purposenation.org/