Our Work
Explore our resources featuring publications, program highlights, research developments, and other work of the Chester Ronning Centre.
Conversations on religion and public life
Every academic year, the Centre hosts a series of distinguished experts who engage the public on trending topics in religion and public life. The Centre joins with various local and institutional partners in bringing scholars, activists, public servants, and professionals together to deepen their knowledge and exchange insights on the most difficult current issues.
The Distinguished Lectures were initiated by the Hendrickson Memorial and Distinguished Visiting Fellows Endowments, where annually, we host a prominent thinker who will reflect on some vital aspects of religion and public life.
Each year, the Ronning Centre hosts conversations about religion's role in various aspects of society, from politics to education and even popular culture. We believe these conversations have the power to bring diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values that can help strengthen the social fabric of society.
Postdoctoral Fellow
The Centre employs a Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to its International Fellows Program. They help organize a conference and to work toward publishing and disseminating research that emerges from the conference.
The International Fellows Program connects public intellectuals with students, faculty, and community members on local, national, and global levels.
The Centre employs a Postdoctoral Fellow to make these connections by organizing a conference every other year, which brings nationally and internationally recognized intellectuals to the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta to engage students, faculty, and the general public. Conference participants have included:
- public and private universities (Canadian and international)
- various religious communities
- civic/governmental agencies and organizations
- journalists and other members of the media
These guests conduct lectures, seminars, and workshops. Both guests and the Fellow have the additional opportunity to publish and disseminate research that emerges from the conference on current issues pertinent to the intersection of religion and public life.