Summary: This project comprises two interconnected initiatives which aim to promote quality academic production in science/belief in society, an area with very limited scholarly production in Brazil, especially when it comes to empirical, data-based research. First, a research component that builds on the work accomplished in the seed grant scheme: we will conduct research that focuses on “trust in science” and how it interconnects with religiosity patterns, educational background, intellectual virtues and demographics, using data already obtained from a previous questionnaire (n=973), applied in Brazil during the seed grant scheme. The second initiative is a research promotion, capacity-building component: we will organize an online event to promote and stimulate new highquality academic research on the topic of science and belief in society. This event will have a “workshop” outlook, with participants discussing their proposed papers with more experienced scholars and senior researchers. We will start by launching a competitive call for abstracts for early career scholars and/or students (masters or doctorate candidates) who are interested in conducting academic research on topics on the interface of science/religion/belief in society. In the launching of this competition, we will use the research our team has performed (from the seed grant and the one described above) as examples of possible empirical research to be carried out in the area of science and belief in society. Applicants will submit abstracts of their proposed research papers along with intentions and plans for publication. These will be evaluated by a team of more senior scholars (including the PL and co-leaders of this project, plus international senior scholars who can read in Portuguese – some of them connected with ISBNS). There will be 20 selected abstracts/authors who will be given and honorary of £ 200 and will be required to take part on an online event where they will present and discuss their proposed papers with their peers and these senior scholars — as to receive feedback and criticism in order to improve their work prior to their final writing and submission to academic journals.
It is our hope that, through these initiatives, a new growing community of researchers will emerge in Brazil, who will be interested and knowledgeable to contribute to the ever-important study of the relations of science and belief in society.
