CV
CV
Updated: 11 Nov 2025
Doctor of Philosophy - ABD - Science, Technology, and Society/Humanities
Dissertation Title (In Progress): A Grand Cosmic Narrative: A Creation Story by Modern Science for a Secular Age
General Exam: Late Modern Science and Religion in the North Atlantic West
Specialized Exam: Science and Religion on the Screen – Meaning Through the Lens
Supervisor: Bernard V Lightman, Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities, FRSC
Committee: Dr Stephen C Bailey, Dr Mark J Cauchi
Master of Arts - History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
Master of Arts - Sociology
Thesis: Science as Meaning-Making: Max Weber and the Myth of Disenchantment
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Arts and Contemporary Studies
Dean’s List
Modern science can now reveal, in remarkable detail, the processes that have shaped the creation and evolution of the Cosmos. Science popularizers and Hollywood productions have used this knowledge—from the Big Bang to the emergence of life—to construct cohesive narratives of cosmic and biological origins grounded in scientific theory and data. When presented as unified wholes, narratives have been constructed which function as modern, secular Creation stories—a genre I call the Grand Cosmic Narrative. Using Cosmos (1980, 2014, 2020) as a central case study, I argue that their use of religious narrative strategies, metaphorical symbolism, and audiovisual grandeur constitutes what Hans Blumenberg calls a “reoccupation”, here of Christian theological forms through secular means, directly challenging conventional interpretations of “science” and “religion”. I trace the genealogy of this narrative from German Romanticism and the Epics of Evolution, such as Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation (1844), situating it within the processes of secularization and “disenchantment” described by Max Weber, Charles Taylor, and others. Tracing “reoccupation,” I show how religious themes of compassion, unity, and meaning are transformed into secular counterparts rooted in scientific knowledge in the North Atlantic world. Through Cosmos, the Grand Cosmic Narrative operates as a mode of spiritual renewal, re-enchanting modernity by offering cosmological belonging and ethical orientation through the ends of science via the means of religion.
Areas of Specialty
Late modern and contemporary history and philosophy of science and religion in the North Atlantic world
Narratives and cultures of science, religion, and secularism
Areas of Competence
Media and culture studies
Sociology of scientific knowledge
Sociology of Max Weber, Norbert Elias, and Pierre Bourdieu
Science communication
Christianity in North America and the United Kingdom
Published
Nairn, Anthony K. 2025. Editor and Contributor. “Special Collection: Science and Religion and Popular Culture”. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. 60(1): 78-157.
“‘Science and Religion’ Meets Popular Culture” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science: 60(1): 78-96.
Watts, Fraser, Anthony K Nairn, Arthur Petersen. 2022. “Science, Religion, Culture”. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. 57(4), 838-848.
Nairn, Anthony. 2019. "The Evolution of Social Constructs: A Proposal for the Re-Conceptualization of Sociobiology for Understanding Interdependent Social Networks as Evolving ‘Organisms’ Using Norbert Elias’s The Court Society". Journal of Big History, 2(4), 61-76.
(Portuguese) “A Evolução de Construtos Sociais: Uma proposta de reconceitualização da sociobiologia para a compreensão de redes sociais interdependentes como “organismos” em evolução usando A Sociedade de Corte, de Norbert Elias”
Accepted and Forthcoming
Nairn, Anthony K. 2026. “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth”: The Distributed Affect and Transformational Perspective of Space Photography of Earth”. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. (accepted for forthcoming collection on behalf of INSBS)
Silva, Heslley Machado, and Anthony K Nairn. 2025. "Interdisciplinary Teaching Proposal: The Life and Legacy of Nikolai Vavilov as a tool against scientific denialism". SAPIENS - Revista de Divulgação Científica. 2(2): (accepted, in press)
Nairn, Anthony K. 2025. “Policing Relativity: Scientific Theory as the ‘Ding’ of a Scientific Public”. Perspectives on Science. (Accepted with revision, forthcoming)
In Preparation
with Pui Him Ip (Cambridge), Fraser Watts (ISSR). “Do Scientists Contemplate?: Qualitative Analysis of Contemplation in Practicing Scientists”. (draft complete, interview stage beginning soon, 2026).
“AI as Technology and Confession in ‘Science and Religion’: The Boundary Disruption of Trust and Expertise in the Use of LLMs” (draft in progress, 2026).
"‘Judgment Day Is Inevitable’: The Role of Media in Perceptions of AGI and Armageddon” (early stages).
Brean, Joseph. June 24, 2018. “How Science Popularizers Use Religion's Tools of Awe and Wonder to Pitch to Younger Generations That Have Abandoned Faith”. National Post. https://nationalpost.com/news/by-indulging-in-awe-and-reverence-science-popularizers-reveal-their-religious-enchantment
ISSR YouTube Channel - Producer/Creator. 2022–Present.
https://www.youtube.com/@ISSR/playlists
I created and am responsible for the ISSR YouTube channel, and have since developed, organized, and managed it.
“ISSR In Conversation” - Host/Producer/Creator. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDJNG998NhMKZlws-Lkcql03d-3OtcCfm
An interview series I created for ISSR Fellows, professional academics, to discuss their work in the field of science and religion. Guests include physicists, philosophers, and historians of science discussing current research on cosmology and culture.
York University
Co-Instructor
F-W 2024/2025: HUMA 2225 - Technology, Society, and the Future - 70 Students
6.67/7 course evaluation mean vs department mean of 6.34.
Working with Prof Ipperciel to modify syllabus, assignments, and course content. Teaching half the course lectures. Preparing and leading students through navigating the social, political, historical, and philosophical intersections of science fiction, the automobile, cities, video games, VR, and AI
Also responsible for two (2) tutorials, researching and presenting information to students relevant to the week. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
Tutorial Instructor
F-W 2023/2024: HUMA 2225 - Technology, Society, and the Future - 70 Students
Taught two (2) tutorials, researched and presented information to students relevant to the week. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
Tutorial Instructor
F-W 2022/2023: HUMA 1875 - Christianity in Context
6.44/7 course evaluation mean vs department mean of 6.12.
Taught, researched and presented information to students relevant to the week. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
Tutorial Instructor
F-W 2021/2022: HUMA 1850 - The Bible and Modern Contexts
6.32/7 course evaluation mean vs department mean of 6.12.
Taught two (2) tutorials, researched and presented information to students relevant to the week. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
Tutorial Instructor
2019-2021: HUMA 1411 - Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society
Taught two (2) tutorials per year, researched and presented information to students relevant to the week. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
University of Toronto
F-W 2018/2019: Guest Lecturer, HPS 326 - History of Science and Religion
(25 Sept 18) “Case Study I: The Re-Enchantment of the West?”
Taught social theory of M. Weber, N. Elias; aesthetic philosophy of E. Kant, E. Burke and R. Scruton; psychological narrative affect theory of J. Peterson. Created a framework for looking at modern narratives of science expressed in popular culture.
(20 Nov 18) “The Jewish Genius and Einstein’s Religion”
Taught a brief history of Einstein and his significance. Focused on his religious beliefs and the nature of his beliefs throughout his life. Used popular culture to demonstrate the power and impact of Einstein’s thinking.
Teaching Assistant
F-W 2018/2019: HPS 326 - History of Science and Religion
F-W 2018/2019
Responsible for undergraduate student administration: marking assignments, emails, administering tests, etc.
Exam Invigilator
F-W 2018/2019: Rotman School of Management
Responsible for watching exam takers, answering questions, and maintaining the timings of MBA students in exams.
Carleton University
Instructor, Enrichment Mini-Courses Program
S 2018: “Mythologies of the World and the Narrative of Science”
I was responsible for creating a course of my own design, taught to advanced high school students selected for the Enrichment Mini-Courses Program hosted by universities in Ottawa.
The course covered world religions and their creation myths from cultures past and present.
Aimed to show the relationship of religions/spiritualities with the modern "myth" that science provides in some narrative examples.
Teaching Assistant
F-W 2016-2017: SOCI 1001 - Introduction to Sociology
Responsible for teaching four (4) undergraduate class student tutorials, researching relevant topics, planning teaching materials, marking assignments, and general class administration.
Teaching Assistant
F-W 2015-2016: HUMS 1000 - Foundational Myths and Histories
Taught, researched and presented information to students relevant to the week in tutorial. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials as I saw fit, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
2025: AAR – Boston, USA
Host, co-organizer (with Josh A Reeves, Samford University), and content creator for YouTube:
Religion and Science Hospitality Event
Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. Hosted by: Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science; Institute on Religion in an Age of Science; Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences; AI and Faith; AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion Program (DoSER); and Zygon Center and CASIRAS.
ISSR Panel “Un-interesting sciences and religion”
Condensed Matter Physics (Mark Harris, University of Oxford); Chemistry (Amanda Nichols, Oklahoma Christian); Earth Science (Tim Middleton, University of Oxford); Bioscience, Engineering (Pete Jordan, University of Oxford); Anthropology (Joe Blankholm, UCSB); Philosophy of Science (Meghan Page, Loyola University Maryland); Presider: Niels Henrik Gregersen (University of Copenhagen)
ISSR Panel “Theology and Psychology Collaborations in the ‘God, Language & Diversity’ Project”
Joanna Leidenhag (University of Cambridge); Daniel Mirman (University of Edinburgh); John Perry (University of St Andrews); James Eglinton (University of Edinburgh); Armand Van Ommen (University of Aberdeen); Daniel Weiss (University of Cambridge)
2025: ISSR 2025 Summer Conference – London, UK
Host, organizer, chair, and content creator for YouTube:
“Ecology Between Religions and Sciences: Minds and Bodies in Nature” - 30 June - 01 July, 2025.
2024: AAR – San Diego, USA
Host, co-organizer (with Ron Cole-Turner, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Josh A Reeves, Samford University), panellist, and content creator for YouTube:
Religion and Science Hospitality Event
Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. Hosted by: Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science; Institute on Religion in an Age of Science; Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences; AI and Faith; AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion Program (DoSER); and Zygon Center and CASIRAS.
Panellist: ISSR Panel “Revisiting the Categories”
Peter Harrison (University of Queensland); Lisa Sideris (University of California, Santa Barbara); Anthony K Nairn (ISSR/York University (Toronto); Gijsbert van den Brink (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam); Dr Joanna Leidenhag (University of Leeds); Moderator: Josh Reeves (Samford University)
ISSR Panel “God and the Book of Nature: Experiments in Theology of Science”
Mark Harris (University of Oxford); Bethany Sollereder (University of Edinburgh); Matthew Elia (Saint Louis University); Frederick Simmons (University of Cambridge); Pete Jordan (University of Oxford); Victoria Lorrimar (University of Notre Dame Australia); and Sarah Lane Ritchie (John Templeton Foundation)
ISSR Panel “Author Meets Critics Book Panel: Climate, God and Uncertainty by Arthur Petersen”
Pete Jordan (University of Oxford); Josh A Reeves (Samford University); Bethany Sollereder (University of Edinburgh); Whitney Bauman (Florida International University); Gijsbert van den Brink (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam); Lisa Sideris (University of California, Santa Barbara)
2024: ESSSAT Annual Conference – Split, Croatia
ISSR Panel “The Grand Cosmic Narrative” - with Fraser Watts and Joanna Leidenhag; Chair: Niels Henrik Gregersen
2024: Science and Belief Research Network Annual Conference – Frankfurt, Germany
The Complexity of Science and Religion in Popular Culture: The Crown and the Moon Landing
2023: Science and Belief Research Network Annual Conference – Exeter, UK
Science and Religion in Popular Culture - Organizer
Popular Culture and the Field of Science and Religion: Interstellar as an Example of Complexity in Popular Culture
2023: ISSR Summer Conference: Artificial and Spiritual Intelligence – Swindon, UK
Conference organizer
2023: PCA Annual Conference – San Antonio, USA
Science and Religion in Popular Culture - Organizer
Popular Culture and the Field of Science and Religion: Interstellar as an Example of Complexity in Popular Culture
2022: Science and Belief Research Network Annual Conference – Birmingham, UK
Images of Earth and the ‘Transformational Experience’ of the Cosmic Perspective
2021 (ONLINE): Science, Religion, and Human Identity - Science and Religion Forum
The Evolutionary Epic and the Grand Cosmic Perspective: The Presentation of Science in Popular Culture as Post-Theological, Secular Re-Enchantment
2021 (ONLINE): Popular Culture Association Annual Conference - Popular Culture Association
Perspectives of the Earth: The Distributed Affect of Three Photographs of the Earth and How the Transformation Perspective Exposes an Intersection Between Science and Religion
2021 (MOVED ONLINE): Science and Belief Research Network Annual Conference
The Grand Cosmic Perspective: Narratives of Science Through Religious Affects
2020 (MOVED ONLINE): GRiSTS – Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University
"In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth": The Distributed Affect and the Transformational Perspective of Photography of the Earth
2020 (MOVED ONLINE): LASAR 2020: Epistemic Insight and Big Questions – Canterbury Christ Church University
The Grand Cosmic Perspective: Science and the Big Questions of Life through Religious-like Narratives
2019: Society for the Social Studies of Science – New Orleans
The ‘Grand Scientific Narrative’: The Religious Presentation of Science in Popular Culture as a Means to Re-Enchant the Secular West
2019: Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Conference - University of British Columbia
A Social and Historical Analysis of the 'Distributed Affect' of Three Photographs of the Earth and How the 'Transformation Perspective' Exposes an Intersection Between Science and Religion
2019: Popular Culture Association Annual Conference - Washington, D.C.
The ‘Grand Scientific Narrative’: The Religious Presentation of Science in Popular Culture as a Means to Re-Enchant the Secular West
2018: Annual Big History Conference - Villanova University
“The Cosmos is all there is or ever was or ever will be”: The Big History of Cosmos and the New Cosmological “Myth”
2018: Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Conference - University of Regina
“These are some of the things molecules do, given four billion years of evolution.”: Does Cosmos Enchant Science?
2017: International Society for Science and Religion, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion Bi-Annual Conference - Oxford University
“These are some of the things molecules do, given four billion years of evolution.”: Cosmos as a Focal Point of Science and Religion to Re-Enchant Society
2017: Canadian Sociological Association Annual Conference - Toronto Metropolitan University
The Science Ding Police: Making Sense of the Politics and Policing of Scientific Publics
2017: Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Conference - Toronto Metropolitan University
On the Hermeneutical Revolutions of Scientific Revolutions: Re-Examining Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Through the Framework of Gadamer’s Hermeneutics
2016: Canadian Sociological Association Annual Conference - University of Calgary
Giving Shape to Social Change: On the Potentiality of Evolutionary Sociology as a Framework for the Study of Social Change of Interdependent Actor Networks Through an Analysis of King Louis XVI's “Court Society”
2016: Graduate Political Sociology Conference - Carleton University
The Science Ding Police: Making Sense of the Politics and Policing of Scientific Publics
2015: ARTeries Undergraduate Student Conference - Toronto Metropolitan University
“That’s my loot, newb!”: An Analysis of Consumer Practices in the Massively Online Multiplayer Video Game World of Warcraft
2022 International Summer School on Science and Religion - Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Crete, Greece
Science and Orthodoxy Around the World
2021 INSBS Summer School - International Research Network for Science and Belief in Society, Online
Emergent Themes in the Study of Science & Belief in Society
2019 INSBS Conference - International Research Network for Science and Belief in Society Conference, Birmingham, UK
ISSR Representative
January 2022 - Current: International Society for Science and Religion - Executive Assistant
All of the below (ISSR Administrator), plus the following:
Responsible for the administration and management (meetings, finances, members, communications, etc.) of the Society and its Executive team.
Providing support, coordination, and management of the Executive Committee, including planning travel, organizing events, and ensuring communications are triaged and sent to the proper channels.
Managing and administrating international teams and the finances for £750,000.00+ Templeton and other funded grants.
Development and execution of investment strategy to ensure long-term financial health of the Society
International travel for running and attending conferences and events.
Developing the ISSR YouTube channel and podcast and its content creation.
Creation and operation of ISSR’s social media.
September 2015 - Current: York University - Teaching Assistant (also includes Carleton University and University of Toronto in past roles)
Teaching undergraduate students in first- and second-year programs within sociology, religion, history, and philosophy.
Planning for course lectures, assignments, and tutorials. Leading tutorials and coordinating student discussions.
Working closely with professors in planning and organization.
Marking written assignments and tests, holding office hours, and general course management and administration.
January 2019 - December 2021: International Society for Science and Religion - Administrator
Responsible for a major international academic society's administration (membership, communications, etc.).
Producing documents and coordinating membership accounts.
Providing support, coordination, and management for the Executive Secretary.
Managing and administrating international teams for research grants.
International travel for running and attending conferences and events.
January 2018 - August 2018: John Howard Society - Support Worker
Responsible for the well-being and support of rehabilitating clients currently enrolled in the John Howard housing transition program.
Support and encouragement of participation in daily activities that contribute to independent living.
Aiding in personal goals set during weekly meetings with clients.
Reporting to the medical team at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Hospital.
May 2016 - April 2017: Canadian Forces Support Unit - Recreational Facilities Administrator
Managing ‘PSP’ (Personel Support Program), keeping detailed records of registrations, payments, and information distribution.
Responsible for the upkeep of member records, payments, and accounts.
Creation and management of recreation programs.
Design and distribute information to the military community in Ottawa.
Responsible for entire “PSP” Uplands during weekend events.
Summer 2016: Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict - Event Director
Internship at an environmental not-for-profit organization in downtown Ottawa.
Hired to develop, plan, coordinate, promote, and manage ‘EV Day 2016’.
Worked closely with municipal, provincial, and federal governments for both the event and program support.
Designed signage, clothing, marketing materials, and website content for the event and the organization.
Reached out to, coordinated, and managed over twenty-five local, provincial, and federal businesses, institutions, organizations, and seven volunteers to participate in EV Day.
Demonstrated competent project management skills in coordinating and implementing many pieces into a single project’s vision.
July 2011 - October 2013: Canadian Armed Forces – Regular Force, Officer Corp, MARS
Operations and leadership of Canadian sailors and naval war vessels.
Planning, coordinating, and conducting military and human operations.
Advanced leadership, time management, project management, and disciplinary training.
Meticulous training on detail-orientated tasks.
October 2010 - April 2011: Canadian Club of Toronto - Event Coordinator
Administrative office work such as answering phones, managing accounts, balancing membership fees, and ordering and selling tickets for weekly events.
Coordinated and managed Canadian Club lunch events, managed public and media, collected tickets, organized volunteers, and guided speakers.
Managed up to five volunteers during lunch events
Social Media Manager: created and maintained the Canadian Club’s Twitter/Facebook page.
Wrote pieces and designed materials for distribution and events.
(2025-2027) Management: University of Birmingham - Global Philosophy of Religion Project: Indigenous Spirituality and Human Meaning in the Amazon - £28,500
(2024-2026) Management: University of Coventry - From the Heart: Testing the Efficacy of Heart-Centred Contemplation - £84,892
(2024-2027) Management and Research: ISSR - Templeton World Charity Foundation - Repose, Insight, Activity: A Trinity of Spiritual Exercises - £392,904
(2021-2023) Management: ISSR - John Templeton Foundation - Latin American Libraries Project - £39,400
(2020-2023) Management, Research, Content: ISSR - Templeton World Charity Foundation - Understanding Spiritual Intelligence: Psychological, Theological, and Computational Approaches - £745,755
(2019-Present) Management, Reader, Content: ISSR - Templeton World Charity Foundation - Annual Book Prize for Best Books in Science and Religion - $203,700
(2019) York University - Vernon Oliver Strong Graduate Scholarship in Science - $10,000
(2019) York University - Graduate Scholarship
(2019) York University - Graduate Fellowship
(2018) University of Toronto - Graduate Scholarship
(2017) Carleton University - Graduate Scholarship
(2016) Carleton University - Graduate Scholarship
(2016) Carleton University - John Porter Graduate Scholarship - $1,000
(2015) Toronto Metropolitan University - Graduate with Distinction
(2015) Toronto Metropolitan University - Dean’s List Graduate
(2009, 2014-2015) Toronto Metropolitan University - Academic Merit Scholarship
(2009) Toronto Metropolitan University - Toshiba “Ask What If” Marketing Competition Winner
Professional Service
(2025-Present) Reviewer, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science
(2022-Present) Executive Assistant, International Society for Science and Religion
(2020-Present) Manager, Organizer, ISSR Book Prize on Science and Religion
(2025) Organizer, Editor, The Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion - The Most Reverend Dr Antje Jackelén
(2025) Organizer, ISSR Summer Conference, “Ecology between Religions and Sciences: Minds and Bodies in Nature”
(2024) Organizer, Editor, The Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion - The Very Revd Professor David Fergusson
(2023) Organizer, Editor, The Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion - Lord Rowan Williams
(2023) Organizer, Presenter - Panel, Science and Religion in Popular Culture - INSBS Annual Conference
Zygon special collection
(2023) Organizer, ISSR Summer Conference, “Science, Religion, AI, and Spiritual Intelligence”
(2023) Organizer, Presenter - Panel, Science and Religion in Popular Culture - PCA Annual Conference
Zygon special collection
(2022) Organizer, Editor, The Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion - Christopher Southgate
(2021) Organizer, Editor, The Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion - Tom McLeish
(2019 - 2020) Binocular Graduate Conference Co-Creator - York University/University of Toronto
(2018 – 2021) Society Administrator, International Society for Science and Religion
(2018 – 2020) Social Media Manager, Canadian Society of the History and Philosophy of Science
(2019) Session Organizer and Chair, Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Annual Conference
“Science and Religion: Rethinking the Dialogue”
(2019) Session Organizer and Chair, Society for the Social Studies of Science Annual Conference
“Science and Religion: Understanding the Interaction”
(2018) Session Organizer and Chair, Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science
“Pillars of the World: The History and Philosophy of Science and Religion”
Departmental Service
(2023-2025) Executive Committee Member, Institute for Technoscience and Society - York University
(2022) Hiring Committee, (Tenure-Track) Professor of Environmental Humanities - York University
(2020) York University/University of Toronto, STS/HPS - Binocular Graduate Conference Co-Chair
(2017) Carleton University, Sociology - Social Committee
(2016) Carleton University, Sociology - Hiring Committee
(2015) Toronto Metropolitan University, ACS - ACS Students’ Union
(2015) Toronto Metropolitan University – Part-time Students’ Association
International Society for Science and Religion; International Research Network for the Study of Science & Belief in Society; Institute for Religion in an Age of Science; Society for Literature, Science, and Arts; Popular Culture Association; American Academy of Religions; Canadian Sociological Association; Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science; Strong Towns; Strong Towns Ottawa, Strong Towns Toronto; Canadian Law and Technology Society.