2027: Technology and Personhood
February 11-13, 2027 | Geneva College
Join us for a thoughtful and engaging conference designed to inspire careful Christian reflection on human personhood in our rapidly changing technological age. Grapple with questions surrounding artificial intelligence, in-vitro fertilization, and social media, guided by speakers Derek Schuurman, Scott Rae, and Felicia Wu Song.
Our Speakers
Call for Papers
In addition to our three plenary speakers, the conference will feature several concurrent sessions in three tracks, each devoted to one of the sub-topics: AI, IVF, and social media.
Christian scholars and other professionals from all disciplines are invited to participate. Presenters are asked to wrestle with such questions as these regarding the particular technology in their focus:
- What implications, if any, does this technology have for how we should conceive of human personhood?
- What biblical or theological resources are especially pertinent for wise practical use of this technology?
- What moral, social, or political challenges does this technology present for human flourishing?
- What moral, social, or political lessons have already been learned to this point in the history of this technology?
- What historical, psychological, or aesthetic considerations are pertinent for our thinking about this technology?
- What cautions or encouragements are in order regarding Christians' use of this technology?
Please submit a 300-500 word abstract of your proposed paper or presentation which clearly indicates the topic area to be addressed (AI, IVF, or social media). Proposals should also include a short bibliography (3-5 sources) and relevant scholarly and/or professional credentials. Presentations must be no longer than twenty-five minutes, allowing for ten minutes of discussion afterwards. Proposals are due by September 1, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by October 2.
Artificial Intelligence
In-vitro Fertilization
Social Media
Located 35 Miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Geneva College is located in Western Pennsylvania, just 35 miles from Pittsburgh and 14 miles from Ohio. Pittsburgh is a hub of state-of-the-art technology and medicine, home to world champion sports teams in football (Steelers), baseball (Pirates) and ice hockey (Penguins), as well as a site for world-class theater, arts and music performances.
Geneva’s 55-acre campus of classic architecture is situated in the city of Beaver Falls, perched on a hilltop with picturesque views of the Beaver River. Convenient transportation options, including a bus line to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh International Airport (25 miles away) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (five minutes away), provide easy access to Geneva by air or land.
Derek Schuurman
Keynote: AI and Human Personhood
Professor and Chair of Computer Science, Calvin University
Prior to his academic career, Derek worked for many years in industry, including work as an engineer at Agile Systems, Inc. and SRE Controls Ltd. Much of his scholarly work is inspired by the Reformed theological tradition and includes books Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture, and Computer Technology (InterVarsity) and A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers (InterVarsity). His work has also appeared in numerous scholarly and popular journals. Derek is a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation and an associate fellow of the Kirby Liang Centre.
Scott Rae
Keynote: IVF and Human Personhood
Dean of Faculty and Professor of Philosophy and Christian Ethics, Biola University
For several decades, Scott has been a leading Christian ethicist, dealing primarily with issues in medical ethics and business ethics. He has authored ten books including Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics (Zondervan), Brave New Families: Biblical Ethics and Reporductive Technologies (Baker), and (with Kenman Wong) Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics (Zondervan). His work has also appeared in numerous academic journals and popular periodicals. Scott serves as an ethics consultant for four Southern California hospitals, and he is a fellow of both the Wilberforce Forum and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.
Felicia Wu Song
Keynote: Social Media and Human Personhood
Cultural Sociologist and Author
A cultural sociologist who studies the place of digital technologies in contemporary life, Felicia has earned degrees in three different disciplines - history, communications, and sociology. She has taught journalism and mass communication at Louisiana State University and sociology at Westmont College. Her unique combination of scholarly skills and Christian theological perspective are brought to bear on contemporary media technology in her books Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age (InterVarsity) and Virtual Communities: Bowling Alone, Online Together (Peter Lang, Inc).