A special conference examining the potential threats and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence for education and building on the Sea of Faith’s work to develop ‘Solarity’, ‘Big Ideas’, and children’s education in Religion and Worldviews.
Big Ideas for Religion and Science in Education
Cultivating curiosity: the value of RE
Identities, AI, Religion and Hope
AI, worldviews and Dialogue
Our 2025 conference theme, Education for this Life, celebrated the growing educational work of the network through the Solarity online materials for Religion and Philosophy Clubs, and through being a key partner of the Big Ideas for Religious Education.
Our first conference in 1988 arose from the series written and presented by Don Cupitt. In 2024, we marked the fortieth anniversary of its broadcast by the BBC together with Don’s 90th birthday. Sadly, in 2025, we honoured his
life and work following his death in January.Artificial Intelligence presents enormous challenges to parents and teachers. Our internationally renowned speakers offer practical support and hope as well as ways to maximise the opportunities it provides. No less a part is played by delegates to a conference, who made many contributions and shared their ideas.
Our thanks to the Hibbert Trust for their generous donation towards the cost of the conference.
Stephen Mitchell, Chair of the Trustees
Programme and speakers
Session 1 – Big Ideas for Religion and Science in Education
Prof Michael Reiss, Dave Francis, Prof Denise Cush & Philippa Hulme spoke about ‘Big Ideas for Religion and Science in Education: The Scopes Monkey Trial – 100 Years On’. This talk combined theoretical underpinnings on ‘Big Ideas’ in education with practical examples of how RE and Science teachers worked together to produce a whole term’s scheme of learning on a contentious issue that still has relevance today: evolution and the interpretation of scriptural texts.
Michael Reiss
As well as being an Anglican priest, Michael Reiss is also professor of science education at the Institute of Education, University College London, where he is assistant director. As Chair of the Association for Science Education and proponent of the use of ‘Big Ideas’ in Science education, he has supported the development of Big Ideas for RE, acting as a key adviser from the start of the project, and in developing a specific scheme of learning based on the ‘Scopes Monkey Trial’ of 1925.
Dave Francis
Dave Francis is an adviser for religious education and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, currently working with Dr Barbara Wintersgill and Prof Denise Cush on the Big Ideas for RE project. He was a teacher of RE for 14 years, including ten as Head of a Department of Religion, Philosophy and Social Education, and has since held advisory posts in several local authorities and, notably, as Lead Consultant for REonline.
Denise Cush
Denise Cush is Professor Emerita of Religion and Education, Bath Spa University. Her interests include Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and alternative spiritualities such as Paganism, as well as RE. She taught Religious Studies at school and university levels, and RE in both primary and secondary teacher education. In 2016 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. She was a member of the REC Commission on RE, whose 2018 Report has been the foundation of current developments for a national plan for the subject. She is a member of the core team producing materials for the Big Ideas for RE website.
Philippa Hulme
Philippa Hulme was intimately involved with the development of the science components of our collaborative project commemorating the Scopes Monkey Trial, and was a key presenter of the material at the Association for Science Education’s national conference earlier this year. She has published a wide variety of school science resources, and created innovative activities bringing contemporary science into the classroom for the ASE, the European Union, Practical Action, Sheffield Hallam University, the British Council and Google Expeditions. As well as writing, Philippa now consults internationally on textbook development, working (mainly remotely) alongside Ministry of Education staff in Uzbekistan, The Gambia and – currently – Tonga.
Session 2 – Cultivating Curiosity: the value of Religious Education
Louisa Jane Smith gave a lively and engaging talk on ‘Cultivating Curiosity: the value of RE’. Louisa argued that helping children to practise the skill of curiosity was a fundamental part of successful learning in RE. One of the things that assists here, she said, is to give pupils confidence that they can be ‘good’ at putting their natural curiosity into action. They enjoy their learning when educational resources are designed to enable them to engage with meaningful stories and ask ‘good questions’.
Louisa Jane Smith
Louisa Jane Smith is the founder and producer of the RE Podcast, ‘the podcast for those of you who think that RE is boring’. There have been 15 series of the Podcast, during which Louisa has interviewed dozens of leading thinkers and practitioners in the RE world. She has been an RE teacher for nearly 25 years and is now an RE Consultant for the Harris Federation working with schools in London to improve outcomes for all children regardless of background. She is also a member of the NATRE executive and is undertaking the RE Leadership course with Culham St Gabriel.
Session 3 – Identities, Artificial Intelligence, Religion and Hope
Prof Beth Singler took us on a journey through some of her research and findings on ‘Identities, AI, Religion and Hope’. This was an illuminating talk about how different religions, including new religious / spiritual movements, are responding to developments in Artificial Intelligence; some reject AI, some adopt it, others adapt it to their own purposes. She raised fascinating questions about how people are to deal with potentially dangerous AI-generated materials in the future, including ‘AI Professors’ who may or may not be providing sound information to enquirers.
Professor Beth Singler
Beth Singler is the Assistant Professor in Digital Religion(s) at the University of Zurich. Prior to this she was the Junior Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, after being the post-doctoral Research Associate on the ‘Human Identity in an age of Nearly-Human Machines’ project at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. Beth explores the social, ethical, philosophical and religious implications of advances in Artificial Intelligence and robotics.
Session 4 – Artificial Intelligence, Worldviews and Dialogue: What is the future role of AI in (Religious) Education?
Prof Rupert Wegerif outlined the implications of fast developing Generative Artificial Intelligence for education in his talk on ‘AI, Worldviews and Dialogue: What is the future role of AI in (Religious) Education?’ He showed how technologies of various sorts impact on whole cultures. In particular, he argued for the ultimate educational value of relationships fostered by genuine dialogue, and that generative AI can assist, even playing the role of a constructive and powerful partner. He asked, “What if we reinvent RE as a social media platform supporting a guided global dialogue about what gives life meaning?
Professor Rupert Wegerif
Rupert Wegerif is a researcher and educator who focuses on the role of dialogue and technology in learning. He leads the Digital Education Futures Initiative and the Cambridge Educational Dialogue Research Group, and has published several books and articles on dialogic education. As well as his PhD in Education Technology, he has a PGCE specialising in RE from Bristol University.