William R. Shea, professor at the University of Padua (Italy) and head of the Galilean Chair History of Science, will give the I Mariano Artigas Memorial Lecture at the University of Navarra on October 18.

The activity is organized by the group of research 'Science, Reason and Faith' (CRYF) of campus and funded by the John Templeton Foundation. The first edition will be entitled 'The Galileo Affair. What Theology Could Learn from Scientists'.

The Commemorative Lecture is a biennial event and is held at report of Professor Mariano Artigas, founder of group of research 'Science, Reason and Faith' and first Dean of the Ecclesiastical School of Philosophy of the University of Navarra. The aim is to disseminate the intellectual work of Professor Artigas, who was a pioneer of the intellectual discussion on science and faith in Spain. It also aims to raise public awareness of the importance of a approach multidisciplinary on the issues that this expert dealt with in his articles and books.

William R. Shea, speaker of the I Mariano Artigas Memorial Lecture, was president of the Executive Council of Humanities of the European Science Foundation and belongs to the European Academy, the Royal Society of Canada and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (committee that awards the Nobel Prize).

The John Templeton Foundation, which is funding the activity, has as its main objective mission statement to promote discoveries related to the great questions of life. These range from exploring the laws of nature and the universe, to inquiring into the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity. The vision stems from Sir John Templeton's commitment to rigorous scientific research and related academic knowledge .