The Catholic Scientist

Latest Episodes:

Episode 13, Chris Baglow, Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life- A Catholic Response Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

What is the likelihood that intelligent life exists somewhere else in the Universe? What would the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life mean for the Catholic understanding that Christ is the means of Salvation? Would the existence of life elsewhere in the Universe undermine man’s special relationship to the Creator? Dr. Chris Baglow, Professor of the Practice of Theology at University of Notre Dame and author ofFaith, Science, and Reason discusses these questions and more with co-hosts Dr. Steve Barr and Dr. Dan Kuebler.

Further information on the Society of Catholic Scientists and the work it does can be found ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Episode 12: Stephen Barr, What Will Our Bodies Be Like In Heaven? Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Stephen Barr, the President of the Society of Catholic Scientists and author of Modern Physics and Ancient Faith, speculates on what our bodies will be like in heaven. Wouldphysical bodies that resemble our current bodies in structure and function even be possible in the eternal realm of heaven? Reflecting on numerous Scriptural passages, the writings of Pope Benedict XVI, as well as what we know about death and decay in the physical world, Dr. Barr delves into one of the most fascinating questions about the afterlife.

Further information on the Society and the work it does can be found ⁠here⁠. https://catholicscientists.org/

Episode 11: Sofia Carozza, Integrating Neuroscience and Faith Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Sofia Carozza discusses the promises and pitfalls of integrating neuroscience and faith during a talk she delivered at the Society of Catholic Scientists’ 2023 annual meeting. Dr. Carozza has a Ph.D. in Cognition and Brain Science from the University of Cambridge and is currently working on her M.D. at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. In this talk, she discusses the neuroplasticity of the brain and how it can respond to changes in our behavior over time. She draws on the Catholic understanding of the human person to reflect on what modern neuroscience has demonstrated about the brain and brain development.

Episode 10: Daniel Kuebler, Darwin and Doctrine Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Daniel Kuebler, a Professor of Biology at Franciscan University, talks about his recent book, Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism, which was published by Word on Fire Press. He and Dr. Stephen Barr discuss the order that undergirds the evolutionary process, the similarities between evolutionary history and Salvation history, and how best to understand the origin of man in light of both modern science and Catholic teaching. Dr. Kuebler gives an overview of why he wrote the book and why it is critical to provide resources for those who are under the impression that the science of evolution and the Catholic Faith are in conflict.

Here is a link to the book in the Word on Fire bookstore.

Episode 9: David Chiang, What Large Language Models Can or Can't Do Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Dr. David Chiang, an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, discusses what large language models (LLMs) can or can’t do in a presentation at the 2024 Society of Catholic Scientists annual meeting. Dr. Chiang’s research is in natural language processing, the subfield of computer science that aims to enable computers to understand and produce human language. In this timely talk, he examines how LLMs operate, the current limits of LLMs, and whether these limitations can be overcome by future developments in the field.

Episode 8: Martin Nowak, Does Evolution Lead to God? Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Nowak, a Professor of Biology and Mathematics at Harvard University, discusses his thoughts on evolution and particularly the role of cooperation in the evolutionary process. He examines how evolution is both ordered and mathematical, which points toward the existence of a rational God who stands behind the evolutionary process.

Dr. Nowak's research focuses on the mathematical description of evolutionary processes, including the evolution of cooperation and human language, as well as the dynamics of virus infections and human cancer. He is also the author of two recent books published by Angelico Press. Within offers a poetic reflection on the intersection of science, mathematics, philosophy, and theology. The second book Beyond is a philosophical quest folded into an epic exploration of the world.

Episode 7: Martin Nowak, Does Mathematics Lead to God? Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Nowak, a Professor of Biology and Mathematics at Harvard University, discusses his thoughts on the nature of mathematics as the language of science. He examines how the truths of mathematics point to the existence of immaterial realities and how mathematics reflects the mind of God.

Episode 6: Steve Barr, A Brief History of the Catholic Church and Science Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Stephen Barr, the President of the Society of Catholic Scientists and author of Modern Physics and Ancient Faith, discusses the history of the interaction between science and Christianity in the West. In particular, he discusses how the Catholic Church fostered the growth of science from the Middle Ages onward as well as how the myth of conflict between the Catholic Church and science arose.

\Further information on the Society and the work it does can be found ⁠here⁠. https://catholicscientists.org/

If you are interested in Dr. Barr's work in Science and Faith, a link to his book, Modern Physics and Ancient Faith can be found ⁠here⁠.

Episode 5: Kenneth Kemp, Human Origins and Humani generis Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Kenneth Kemp, an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, discusses human evolution in light of the first Papal encyclical to discuss human evolution, Humani generis. He also gives an overview of his most recent book, The Origins of Catholic Evolutionism, 1831–1950 (CUA Press), which details how the Church engaged with evolutionary thought in the 19th and early 20th century.

Episode 4: Jonathan Lunine Part 2, Life Beyond Earth Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

In the second of two episodes, Dr. Jonathan Lunine, Chief Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, discusses the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the solar system and how scientists are able to get data from various NASA missions to address this question. Dr. Lunine is a member of the NationalAcademy of Sciences and is one of the founding board members of the Society of Catholic Scientists.

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