Events

Sir John Templeton founded both the Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. (TWCF) and the John Templeton Foundation (JTF) as philanthropic organisations with the motto “How little we know, how eager to learn”. While TWCF and JTF have similar aims, they operate as separate charitable entities. Each has their own application procedure, with JTF currently accepting open applications, while TWCF accepts applications by invitation only.

The mission of both TWCF and JTF is to find the world’s best minds and promote open-minded, forward-looking inquiry in a wide range of fields. They work with top academic institutions and leading experts from around the globe to support projects of the highest calibre and communicate the results of these projects.

The foundations serve as philanthropic catalysts for discoveries relating to the Big Questions of human purpose and ultimate reality. They support research on subjects ranging from complexity, evolution, and infinity to creativity, forgiveness, love, and free will. They encourage civil, informed dialogue among scientists, philosophers, and theologians and between such experts and the public at large, for the purposes of definitional clarity and new insights.

Dr Bethany Sollereder is an associate of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University where she lectures on science and religion. She has been a consultant to the Templeton World Charity Foundation since 2014, and is also familiar with the operation of the John Templeton Foundation funding process. Her portfolio is primarily in the funding category known as “Humility-in-Theology” or “Big Questions of human purpose, the natural world, and ultimate reality.”

Dr Sollereder will give a talk (12:00 – 13:00) outlining the funding process and addressing a number of frequently asked questions. Following this (13:00 – 13:45) she will be available to answer questions and discuss specific issues people may wish to raise.

Should you be unable to attend the talk at City University, Dr Sollereder will give a similar talk in the University of Hong Kong on the 5th December.