CV
CV
Updated: 15 July 2025
Anthony K Nairn
262 Vanier College
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M3J 1P3
anairn@yorku.ca
Doctor of Philosophy - Humanities
Supervisor - Bernard V Lightman, Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities, FRSC
Dissertation Title (In Progress): A Grand Cosmic Narrative: A Creation Story by Modern Science for a Secular Age
Committee: Dr Stephen C Bailey, Dr Mark J Cauchi
Master of Arts - History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
Master of Arts - Sociology
Thesis: Disenchantment and Science: Max Weber and the Myth of Disenchantment
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Arts and Contemporary Studies
Dean’s List
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.
Dissertation Abstract
Modern science can now reveal in reliable detail nearly all the relevant processes which have allowed for the creation and evolution of the cosmos. Science popularizers and Hollywood teams have used such knowledge, from the Big Bang to the ‘awakening’ of life, to demonstrate the creation of the universe and the breaths of life in a cohesive and seamless narrative style based on macro scientific theory and data. Critically, in presenting a scientific narrative as a coherent whole, such presentations, intentionally or not, can be seen as a modern, secular Creation narrative. These audio-visual presentations are usually done with an emphasis on endowing meaning and purpose to life, creating an informed citizenry, or educating the impact of seemingly unrelated science to the everyday. This narrative type is what I label the Grand Cosmic Narrative. Using the science communication program Cosmos, I argue that the use of religious narrative strategies, themes, and metaphoric symbolism, along with visual and audible facsimiles to present secular understandings of life and cosmos purposefully, is a “reoccupation” of Christianity and its theology through secular, material means. I begin by addressing some of the contexts of Cosmos’ development and the concerns raised against Sagan’s program. However, my main objective is to build the necessary scaffolding to think through the development of the Grand Cosmic Narrative. To do so, I make a genealogy beginning with German Romanticism, such as Friedrich Schilling, and following through to the Epics of Evolution of Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation and beyond. From there, I argue that the context of Max Weber’s disenchantment theory and moving into secularization outlined by Charles Taylor demonstrate a history of spiritual disruption as politics and the sciences systematically challenged theistic explanations and answer positions. I argue that an informative way of thinking about this process is via what Hans Blumenberg called “reoccupation,” the reconstitution of metaphysical answer positions from one culture stage to another. In essence, religious symbolism and theological notions of compassion, oneness and togetherness, ethical care and compassion, and more have been transformed into secular facsimiles that in popular secular presentations of scientific content, the mediums of popular culture that utilize this Grand Cosmic Narrative are doing so as a means of spiritual revaluation, a realignment of belief and substance that is to be transferred from the institutions of religion to the epistemic cultures of science. This may be perceived as an attempt to re-enchant against common feelings of meaninglessness and purposelessness, which theologian John Haught calls “cosmic pessimism.” However, while it has been claimed that science is a loosely connected network of knowledge systems, the fact remains that the popular mind conceived of science as more unified than the academy allows. If we are to understand this cosmo-spirituality, we must come to appreciate that knowledge systems also offer suggestions on ways of being and orientation that align with classically assumed religious teachings. The narrative whole of Cosmos is one such offering. Cosmos's affectual motivation uses specific theological-like phrasing, emphasizing human beings' wonder and connection with the universe and all within it. The affect possible by the sensory experience of Hollywood-calibre digital effects work and orchestral music, along with the visual metaphors on display, do much work to lift the Grand Cosmic Narrative from its genealogical history and into the minds of billions of people today.
Publications
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.
Watts, Fraser, Anthony K Nairn, Arthur Petersen. 2022. “Science, Religion, Culture”. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. 57(4), 838-848.
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.
Nairn, Anthony K. 2025. “Policing Relativity: Scientific Theory as the ‘Ding’ of a Scientific Public”. Perspectives on Science. (Forthcoming)
Silva, Heslley and Anthony K Nairn. 2025. "Interdisciplinary Teaching Proposal: The Life and Legacy of Nikolai Vavilov as a tool against scientific denialism". The American Biology Teacher. (Forthcoming)
Areas of Specialty
Narrative and culture
19th-century history and philosophy of science and religion
Areas of Competence
History of science
Philosophy of science
Sociology of science
Sociology of popular culture
Media studies
Socio-political theory
Sociological economic theory
History of sociological thought
Sociology of knowledge
2025: ISSR – Swindon, UK
Ecology between Religions and Sciences: Minds and Bodies in Nature
Organizer, chair, admin.
2024: AAR – San Diego, USA
ISSR Panel “Revisiting the Categories” - with Peter Harrison- University of Queensland, Lisa Sideris- University of California, Santa Barbara, Gijsbert van den Brink- Vrij University Amsterdam, Dr Joanna Leidenhag- University of Leeds; Moderator: Josh Reeves- Samford University
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 “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
Teaching
York University
Co-Instructor
F-W 2024/2025: HUMA 2225 - Technology, Society, and the Future
Teaching half of 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
Led and taught two (2) tutorials and researched and presented information to students. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials in my own way, 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
Taught two (2) tutorials and researched and presented information to students. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials in my own way, 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
Taught researched and presented information to students. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials in my own way, 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
Taught two (2) tutorials and researched and presented information to students. I had the freedom to approach the tutorials in my own way, which led to incredible positive feedback from my students. Was responsible for grading, leading, counselling, office hours, and administration.
University of Toronto
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 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
(Fall 18 - Winter 19)
Responsible for undergraduate student administration: marking assignments, emails, administering tests, etc.
Carleton University
Instructor, Enrichment Mini-Courses Program
(7-11 May 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 the universities in Ottawa.
The course was on world religions and their creation myths from cultures both past and present.
Aimed to show the relationship of religions/spiritualities with the modern "myth" that science provides in some narrative examples.
Teaching Assistant
(Fall 2015-Winter 2017)
Responsible for teaching five (5) undergraduate class student tutorials, researching relevant topics, planning teaching materials, marking assignments, and general class administration.
Awards and Grants
(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
(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
Service
Professional Service
(2022-Present) Executive Assistant, International Society for Science and Religion
(2025) Organizer, Chair, Admin, IT, 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, Panel, Science and Religion in Popular Culture - INSBS Annual Conference
(2023) Organizer, ISSR Summer Conference, “Science, Religion, AI, and Spiritual Intelligence”
(2023) Organizer, Panel, Science and Religion in Popular Culture - PCA Annual Conference
(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 organizer and co-chair - 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
(2019/2020) 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 Student’s Union
(2015) Toronto Metropolitan University – Part-time Student’s Association
Affiliations
International Society for Science and Religion; Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society; 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, Canadian Law and Technology Society