PRESS RELEASE

Between 19-20th of October, the Association for the Dialogue between Science and
Theology in Romania (ADSTR) and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and
Orthodoxy (IASSO) organized in Bucharest the Congress

"Romania, as laboratory of the dialogue between science and spirituality in the

contemporary world".

Under the patronage of the Romanian Academy, the John Templeton Foundation
from U.S.A. and the UNESCO National Commission for Romania, the Congress was
honored by the presence of several important participants from Australia, Brazil, United
Arab Emirates, France, Mexic, Romania, Russia, Serbia, U.S.A., U. K. The Romanian
speakers were Emil Constantinescu, Solomon Marcus, Basarab Nicolescu, Magda
Stavinschi, Mihail Şora, Ioan Chirila, and Doru Costache.
The opening speach was addressed by the Vice-president of the Romanian
Academy Acad. Marius Iosifescu, Minister of Culture, Religious Affairs and National
Heritage Theodor Paleologu, Lucretia Baluta, counsellor to the UNESCO National
Commission for Romania. The President of the Scientific Committee of the Congress'
organization, Acad. Basarab Nicolescu, read the messages of HHS Bartolomeu Anania,
Metropolitan of the Cluj, Alba, Crisana and Maramures Metropolitan Church, and the
message of Andrei Plesu, Rector of New Europe College and director of the Institute of
History of Religions of the Romanian Academy. Academician Ionel Haiduc, President of
the Romanian Academy has made a closing speech, followed by Acad. Basarab
Nicolescu who drawn the conclusions.
Furthermore, discussions followed and by the wide range of topics approached,
they tried to deepen the dialogue between science and spirituality in the contemporary
world, proving once again that Romania is a real laboratory in this area.
An important event was represented by the launch of the book "What is reality?
Reflections about the work of Stéphane Lupasco", Junimea Publishing House, in the
presence of its author, Basarab Nicolescu, honorary member of the Romanian Academy.
The book was presented by Acad. Nicolae Breban, Cassian Maria Spiridon and Magda
Stavinschi.
The nearly 200 guests were pleased by the live presentation of two conferences,
one in Sydney, the other from Belgrade.
Additional information on the website
www.adstr.ro/congress2009/

Magda Stavinschi
President ADSTR and IASSO