14th Graduate Conference – Call for Applications

The primary aim of this program is to bring together early-career researchers and graduate students (MA and PhD level) from various disciplines who are academically engaged in the study of the Risale-i Nur Collection. The goal is to provide a structured environment where participants can gain a deeper understanding of Risale-i Nur’s methodology and spiritual-intellectual framework, and to foster academic studies that are both aligned with the scholarly ethos of Risale-i Nur and grounded in rigorous academic standards.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi regarded the universe as a "book" written to be read and interpreted. According to him, a correct reading of this book is only possible through a Qur’anic lens. Every created being, in his view, points through its unique qualities to the existence, unity, and attributes of the Creator. Nursi strongly opposed the materialist, positivist, and secular paradigms that have come to dominate modern science, arguing that when science is stripped of these ideological filters and approached through a faith-based epistemology rooted in the Qur’an, it not only harmonizes with belief but actually deepens it—awakening awe, humility, and gratitude in the human soul. In this context, Nursi’s Risale-i Nur offers profound insights and solutions to the crisis of faith in the modern world, which he saw as stemming from a secular worldview that severs the fundamental link between the Creator and the created in almost every domain of life.

Throughout the program, participants will explore the foundations of Risale-i Nur’s methodology, its epistemological framework, its engagement with modern science, and its theological responses to contemporary challenges to belief. This year’s conference will include an intensive five-day seminar structured around the core themes of the Risale-i Nur Collection. Each day will feature a two-hour lecture and a two-hour discussion session led by scholars from five different disciplines. Together, participants will delve into Nursi’s faith-based conception of knowledge and his critique of modern intellectual crises.

At the end of the program, each participant is expected to submit a 1,000-word reflection paper evaluating and synthesizing the key concepts explored during the five-day seminar. These papers will be presented on the sixth day of the program and, after revisions, are to be submitted for publication in the December issue of KATRE, the journal of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture.

We believe this conference will make a significant contribution to the growing international body of academic work on Risale-i Nur and help young scholars actively engage with this rich intellectual tradition.

Program Information and Financial Support

The conference will take place in person at the headquarters of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture. All expenses related to travel, accommodation, and meals will be covered by the Foundation for the duration of the program.

Who Can Apply?

Graduate students (MA and PhD) and early-career researchers from all academic disciplines are invited to apply. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a serious academic interest in the study of Risale-i Nur.

Application Requirements

1. A 2–3 page paper proposal on the theme of “Science and Faith”, from the perspective of any academic discipline.

2. A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).

3. An optional letter of recommendation.

4. Following the program, participants are required to revise and submit their reflection papers for publication in the December issue of KATRE journal.

Important Dates

• Program Dates: August 23–28, 2025

• Application Deadline: June 25, 2025

• Notification of Acceptance: July 3, 2025

Application Submission

All application materials must be submitted by June 25, 2025 to: tugbaturkoglu@iikv.org

Additional Note

The language of the program is English.

To view videos from previous programs, please visit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrZEWW8aOxI&list=PLfiwYedbGpQUxL8FsCOcfvX-1J8fW_Ngk