معرفی
John H. Evans is the Tata Chancellor's Chair in Social Sciences, Professor of Sociology, Associate Dean of Social Sciences, and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at the University of California, San Diego. He has held visiting positions at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Yale University, and universities in Edinburgh, Muenster, Ben Gurion, and Queensland.
Evans earned his BA from Macalester College and PhD from Princeton. His academic journey includes significant contributions to understanding the intersection of religion, science, and ethics through sociological lenses.
Professor Evans specializes in the ethics of human gene editing, the sociology of religion and science, and broader ethical questions raised by scientific and technological developments. His research examines foundational humanistic questions that have traditionally been addressed by humanities scholars, particularly focusing on how ordinary Americans conceptualize the relationship between religion and science. He has pioneered research showing that while religion and science may conflict among societal elites, this conflict is generally not present among ordinary Americans after the 1960s, with conflicts primarily centered around moral values rather than facts about nature.
His scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory toward increasingly complex ethical questions at the intersection of neuroscience, biotechnology, and human identity. Recent publications focus on neuro-chimeras, brain organoids, and the moral status of emerging biotechnologies, reflecting his expanding interest from gene editing to broader questions of what constitutes humanity in the age of advanced biotechnology.
- Fellow of the Hastings Center (bioethics)
- Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion
- Member of the Sociological Research Association
- Tata Chancellor's Chair in Social Sciences
As Associate Dean of Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics, Evans plays a significant administrative role at UCSD while leading a $2.9 million re-granting project funded by the Templeton Religion Trust. He co-founded and co-leads the Network for the Social Scientific Study of Science and Religion with Elaine Ecklund of Rice University, demonstrating his commitment to building collaborative research networks across institutions.
Through the Institute for Practical Ethics, which he co-directs with philosopher Craig Callender, Evans develops and promotes research on foundational questions facing society today, with an emphasis on engagement between ethicists, scientists, and policymakers. His work bridges academic sociology with practical ethical concerns affecting public policy and scientific development.
