The Virginia Tech Center for Humanities recently was awarded $500,000 from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Theology Program to support “Future Human, Human Futures,” a project that combines religion, ethics, and technology to tackle fundamental questions of what it means to be human in a technological age. 

Sylvester Johnson, director of the center and professor in the Department of Religion and Culture, serves as the principal investigator.

The three-year project will enable researchers in religion and theology to engage with experts in technology and innovation domains, such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and cybernetics. Among the planned activities are a series of summer research institutes and a partnership with Do Good X, an accelerator designed for early-stage social entrepreneurs who are passionate about developing businesses that accomplish good in the world.