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Portrait in Faith Honoree and Climate Scientist Reconciles Faith and Science
Faith and science are often positioned in opposition to one another. This year’s Portrait in Faith honoree, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, challenged this perspective and encouraged the EHS community to think of faith and science as complementary.
The Portrait in Faith program was established in 1994 by Reginald E. Rutledge, Jr. ’51, in honor of his wife the Reverend Fleming Rutledge and his family members who attended EHS. The program seeks to educate and inspire students by exposing them to models of Christian faith.
An evangelical Christian, daughter of missionaries, and wife of a pastor, Dr. Hayhoe is also a renowned expert on climate change, associate professor in the department of political science at Texas Tech University, and director of the university’s Climate Science Center. With a background in physics, astronomy, and atmospheric science, she is passionate about the impact of climate change on humans, especially our most vulnerable populations, and is in the unique position to breach the perceived gaps between faith and science.
"Dr. Hayhoe impressed me on all levels with her ability to make science approachable mixed with her magnetic storytelling," said the Rev. Betsy Gonzalez. "She challenges not only in the scientific realm, but also in the religious realm. The sharing of her Evangelical faith along with her commitment to science and all of God's creation shows the diversity that exists inside her denomination."
"Dr. Hayhoe impressed me on all levels with her ability to make science approachable mixed with her magnetic storytelling," said the Rev. Betsy Gonzalez. "She challenges not only in the scientific realm, but also in the religious realm. The sharing of her Evangelical faith along with her commitment to science and all of God's creation shows the diversity that exists inside her denomination."
The data shows that the planet is warming and that humans are responsible, said Dr. Hayhoe, in a presentation that offered helpful visuals and information from her and others’ research. Further, she urged, it is our responsibility as humans and as Christians to help the people that are being disproportionately affected by climate change. She stressed that climate change is not a political issue, but a scientific and humanitarian one.
Math teacher Stacie Galiger, who along with her students participated in a discussion with Dr. Hayhoe following her lecture, said, “I think the community really enjoyed hearing from her because she was such a personable, honest speaker. Her perspective reminds us that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a moral one. She not only talked to us about her research and work, but also gave the community helpful advice on how to enter any difficult conversation where there are varied opinions; I think that information will be meaningful and relevant to us in many contexts.”
Christian Wright ’18, senior warden of the vestry, left the lecture with concrete ideas for how to reduce his impact on the environment. “Dr. Hayhoe got me thinking about what I can do, what my family can do, and what we as a School can do.”
Dr. Hayhoe has been named one of Christianity Today’s 50 Women to Watch, one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, one of Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers, and one of POLITICO 50’s “Thinkers, Doers and Visionaries Transforming American Politics.” She is also the host of Global Weirding on PBS.
