May 16, 2026

Science, Religion, and Public Policy

This conversation will look at issues where scientific findings, religious beliefs, and policy decisions meet and sometimes conflict, such as climate change, medical ethics, and public health. In small groups, we will talk about how our beliefs affect the way we think about these issues, sharing our perspectives and listening to one another.

Facilitator Prakash Chenjeri is a professor and chair of the philosophy program at Southern Oregon University. He was educated both in India and the US. His research and teaching focus on understanding the concept of citizenship, the role of scientific literacy in modern democracy, and debates over science and religion. His expertise spans both the classroom and the global stage: he has developed and led courses in science and religion and shared insights on the subject at international and domestic conferences. He co-directs the Democracy Project, a comprehensive examination of democracy around the world in the twenty-first century. He has lived in Oregon for more than three decades.

2:00 pm., Klamath County Library Service District, Klamath Falls

June 6, 2026

Talking About Values Across Political Divides

“How can I be me without making it difficult for you to be you?” This question gets at the fundamental challenge of being in society together. We live in a contentious political world, and it’s difficult to talk about our deepest values and beliefs in safe, civil, and respectful ways. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that nearly six in ten Americans felt that political conversations with those you disagree with are generally stressful and frustrating, as opposed to being interesting and informative. If we avoid such conversations, we lose opportunities to form a community with others that reflects our best selves. How can we learn to share our values in ways that bring us together rather than push us further apart?

10:00 a.m., Klamath County Library Service District, Klamath Falls