NDSU’s Northern Plains Ethics Institute is set to host State Sen. Tim Mathern at the next Science, Religion and Lunch Seminar, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 21, at noon in the Memorial Union’s Badlands room.

The discussion, titled “Let’s Talk about Politics and Religion at Thanksgiving Dinner,” will focus on the juncture of politics and religion using Mathern’s personal experience as a legislator and Roman Catholic.

Mathern, who is public policy director at Prairie St. John’s Hospital in Fargo, also will use Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment as an affirmation that there is no conflict between religion and science.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from NDSU, his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska.

Mathern has been the state senator for District 11 since 1986. His legislative responsibilities cover budget, health care and human services issues. He represents the state in many committees and organizations focusing on the community – some of them include the American Trends Panel, YMCS Child Care Committee, North Dakota Health Information Hub Executive Committee and North Dakota State Commission on National and Community Service.

The seminars foster thoughtful, accessible dialogues on religion or science, with a special focus on the intersection between the two. Presenters take the seminar’s first forty minutes to develop their ideas during the seminar’s first 40 minutes, followed by questions for 20 minutes.

If you are interested in giving a seminar, contact Syed Ahmed at mailto:syed.ahmad@ndsu.edu or Dennis Cooley at mailto:dennis.cooley@ndsu.edu.

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