STEUBENVILLE, OHIO — Franciscan University of Steubenville will host a three-part public webinar series introducing the mission and vision of its Institute for the Study of Man and Woman and exploring the nature of man and woman through theology, natural science, and the social sciences.

Presented in collaboration with the University’s Catechetical Institute, the introductory-level series offers an accessible, interdisciplinary framework for beginning to understand Christian anthropology in light of contemporary cultural, scientific, and social questions.

“Questions about the meaning of being man and woman are among the most urgent and contested issues of our time,” said Dr. Deborah Savage, professor of theology at Franciscan University and director of the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman. “This series seeks to bring together theology, science, and the social sciences to illuminate the truth about the human person and to demonstrate the coherence and beauty of the Catholic Church’s vision.”

Each webinar will provide a brief overview of what a particular discipline contributes to the discussion, while highlighting how an integrated approach can deepen understanding of the human person. Registration is free and open to the public.

1. Theological Framework
   Wednesday, February 11, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
   The Nature of Man and Woman: The Theological Vision at the Heart of Christian Anthropology
   Speaker:

• Dr. Deborah Savage, Professor of Theology, Franciscan University
  Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PwfuMpfFR9CylRPmOc6HKw#/registration

2. Natural Sciences
   Wednesday, March 25, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
   The Nature of Man and Woman, Part One: What Does Natural Science Say?
   Speakers:

• Dr. Deborah Savage, Professor of Theology, Franciscan University
• Dr. Derek Doroski, Professor of Biology and Engineering, Franciscan University
• Dr. Stephen Sammut, Professor of Psychology, Franciscan University
  Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eiX-E6PBQvWEuN9S7qxiHw

3. Social Sciences
   Wednesday, April 15, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
   The Nature of Man and Woman, Part Two: What Do the Social Sciences Say?
   Speakers:

• Dr. Deborah Savage, Professor of Theology, Franciscan University
• Dr. Regina Boerio, Professor of Psychology, Franciscan University
• Dr. Anne Hendershott, Professor of Sociology, Franciscan University
  Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lzGMg9TYSnKgk_SXjIGq_g

By convening scholars across disciplines, the webinar series reflects Franciscan University’s commitment to academic excellence within the Catholic intellectual tradition and its mission to form men and women who can engage the world with truth and charity.

The Institute for the Study of Man and Woman fosters rigorous, faithful scholarship on the nature of the human person. Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person, the institute addresses pressing cultural and academic debates with clarity, charity, and intellectual depth.

Through research, teaching, and public engagement, the institute seeks to equip scholars, educators, catechists, and the faithful to respond thoughtfully to contemporary questions about identity, embodiment, vocation, and the meaning of sexual difference.

For more information about the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman, visit: https://franciscan.edu/man-and-woman-institute/.