Educator Professional Development

World Religions and Culture

The Boniuk Institute's annual Educator Professional Development program for secondary school educators and student-facing professionals offers instruction and training to deepen content knowledge of different religions for successful incorporation in classrooms, creating awareness, and enabling teachers to more confidently include and address the role of world religion in their classroom subject matter or student-facing discussion.

This year, Boniuk Institute scholars will present a professional development opportunity on world religions and culture. Educators will be introduced to world religions, including Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Sessions will also include special topics such as the relationship between religion and science, religion and the state, and current events such as religion in Russia and Ukraine, and religion and culture in Africa.

Scholars and Topics

Aishwarya Lakshmi

Facilitator

Gregory Han

Religious Literacy: Understanding and Application

Di Di

Buddhism Evolving: Exploring its Past, Present, and Future

Jauhara Ferguson

Introduction to Islam

Brenton Kalinowski

Hinduism: A Global Religion

Eduard van der Merwe

Religion and State

Niki Kasumi Clements

Religion and Science

Josiah Taru

Religion and Culture in Africa

Mendel Kranz

Judaism in Europe

Stanislav Panin

Religion in Russia and Ukraine

Schedule

Tuesday, June 11, 2024:

• 9:30am Welcome and Overview, Aishwarya Lakshmi
• 10:00-10:45am Religious Literacy: Understanding and Application, Gregory Han
• 10:50-11:35am Hinduism, A Global Religion, Brenton Kalinowski
• 11:40-12:35pm Religion and Science, Niki Clements
• 12:35-12:50pm Wrap-up discussion

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

• 9:40am Zoom opens for open chat and networking
• 10:00-10:45am Religion and State, Eduard van der Merwe
• 10:50-11:35am Religion in Russia and Ukraine, Stanislav Panin
• 11:40-12:35pm Religion and Culture in Africa, Josiah Taru
• 12:35-12:50pm Wrap-up discussion

Thursday, June 13, 2024

• 9:40am Zoom opens for open chat and networking
• 10:00-10:45am Introduction to Islam, Jauhara Ferguson
• 10:50-11:35am Buddhism Evolving: Exploring Its Past, Present and Future, Di Di
• 11:40-12:35pm Judaism in Europe, Mendel Kranz
• 12:35-12:50pm Wrap-up discussion