As regular readers likely know, ESN has partnered with the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) on a number of initiatives in the last few years, notably student tracks for the ASA’s last two Annual Meetings. This regular faith/science conference rotates around the country and will be at Gordon College near Boston for summer 2018. ESN is planning to collaborate with ASA on student tracks again, and we’d love to see members submit abstracts. Students: Some scholarship opportunities are available, so stay tuned for further information on that. [Read more…] about Update: 2/28 Extended Deadline for ASA Abstract Submission
ASA
Next Steps for ESN — Part 2: Vision, Partnership
I greatly appreciate the ASA’s ongoing partnership with InterVarsity, particularly when it comes to engaging with college and graduate students at our Annual Meeting. Hannah Eagleson and Tom Grosh have done a wonderful job of creating opportunities for students to interact with their peers as well as professionals within their disciplines. These networking connections are a win for everyone involved, and we look forward to continuing this partnership at next year’s ASA meeting. — Leslie Wickman, Ph.D., Executive Director, American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) [Read more…] about Next Steps for ESN — Part 2: Vision, Partnership
Next Steps for the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) — Part 1
Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service. — Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 4, 29.
As some of you know (may even remember), 5 years ago I became the Associate Director of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). What a privilege it has been to be part of connecting, encouraging, equipping and mentoring a growing network (4,200+) of those on the academic pathway (undergrads, grad students, postdocs and early career faculty) via blogging, facebook, ministry/conference partnerships, paper.li, and twitter. Note: If you have not already joined ESN’s dynamic network, please do such 🙂
When launched on March 1, 2004, ESN offered to help every member, at whatever career stage, to ask — and formulate answers to “The Four Questions”:
- Why should I consider pursuing an academic vocation, for my entire career or a significant amount of time?
- What do I need to learn about Christian thought and practice to be faithful within my academic calling?
- How do I navigate the various stages and transitions of an academic vocation?
- Who can help me at each stage of my professional development, and whom can I help?
Exploring “The Four Questions” led members of the ESN staff team and partners in ministry (including a strong contingent of faculty) to
- Dig deep in mentoring conversation via a number of platforms, with blogging becoming the most prominent starter for a season of ministry (August 21, 2008 – )
- Connect with peers and mentor figures online and at conferences
- Partner with InterVarsity campus fellowships (e.g., STEAM Project Grant Series) and conferencing (e.g., Urbana)
- Partner with other likeminded organizations such as the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA)
- Engage with a growing number of PhDs, who due to a variety of factors, find their journey through “liminal space” leading to uncertainty about next steps as the academy has limited space for the volume of graduates. Many have shared with me their appreciation of ESN’s exploration of Writing Christian Personal Statements and offering of Scholar’s Compass: a devotional written for and by scholars.
When asked what ESN does, I typically turn to stories and illustrations drawn from a list such as the above, but when engaged in planning next steps I have found the below list of benefit.
- Building/encouraging/publicizing networks of Christians within academic fields
- Connecting students in transition to InterVarsity events/campus groups and resources beyond the academy
- Producing material to support groups and individuals exploring their academic vocation and sharing it on our blog
- Providing emerging scholars opportunities to connect with peers and mentor figures online and at conferences
- Providing emerging scholars training and opportunities to grow as public intellectuals and bless the church and the world through blogging and speaking opportunities
- Engaging InterVarsity alumni with a desire to serve emerging scholars
Stay tuned, much more to share in future posts about ESN’s history, next steps, and very specific stories as to how we have served students, recent graduates, and faculty at important times in their academic journey. Your prayers, partnership (as the Lord enables), and encouragement in this Kingdom work is much appreciated. To God be the glory!
Connecting with ESN has really enriched my experience at Urbana because it expanded my mind to see that God called me into the engineering field for a reason. Missions and academic/vocational pursuit are not two separate ideas, but rather beautifully intertwined to fulfill a piece of God’s bigger story for my generation. — Galina, ESN Urbana 15 participant, currently a grad student
The Martian and Speed Mentoring: ESN at ASA 2017 Annual Meeting This Weekend
If you’re headed to the American Scientific Affiliation 2017 Annual Meeting, join ESN for the following events. Even if you’re not able to go, we would deeply appreciate your prayers. Hope to see many of you there! ESN’s events at the ASA conference are made possible through the support of an award from the Science and Theology for Emerging Adult Ministries project at Fuller Theological Seminary. The opinions expressed are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Fuller or the STEAM project. Check out our faith/science series, another part of our STEAM grant project, or read about the whole project here.Â
Did you see The Martian? Do you like breakfast? If either of those things rings true and you’re coming to the American Scientific Affiliation Annual Meeting this weekend, join us for the student/early career breakfast on Saturday. We’ll hear about The Martian from a scientist with actual Mars Rover experience. Read on to learn more about this, other informal opportunities for early career scientists and students, and the student track sessions (also in the program). [Read more…] about The Martian and Speed Mentoring: ESN at ASA 2017 Annual Meeting This Weekend
July 2017 Prayer Post
Dear friends,
As we start July, would you pray with us at the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN)?
Please pray for:
- Genuine rest and Sabbath for busy academics
- Safety in summer travels
- Chances for Christian academics to serve others in the church and beyond this summer
- Growing writer base for the the blog
- Praise: Several participants in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA’s 2017 Midwest Faculty Conference shared a passion for coming alongside Emerging Scholars in their academic journey by writing for the blog. Pray for next steps in creating future posts. Note: The most recent ESN Review highlights a number of our Spring 2017 posts / series.
- ESN’s upcoming track at the American Scientific Affiliation’s (ASA) 2017 Annual Meetings
- July 28 – 31, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
- Theme for the Annual Meetings: Exploring New Heights for Science & Stewardship
Let’s thank God for:
- All the many ways He provides for us each day
- By God’s grace the Emerging Scholars Network finished “in the black” this fiscal year.
- The many ESN members graduating or achieving some other significant milestone this summer
- Good books to read
- The community of the church
- The beauty of the natural world
We close with a hymn by Charles Wesley:
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven. – Text from Hymnary.com, http://hymnary.org/text/o_for_a_thousand_tongues_to_sing_my