EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

This exploratory study, conducted at Saint Mary's College of California in 2025, is investigating whether learning about evolutionary principles through an interdisciplinary "Stories of the Universe" January Term course can increase hope and optimism among undergraduate students. The research specifically examines if exposure to "third story" science—an approach open to questions of meaning and purpose while aiming at the common good—leads to increased connection, agency, and optimism. The study has collected quantitative and qualitative data from consenting course participants to assess cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual impacts of learning about different worldviews in the context of religious and scientific narratives. Under Primary Investigator Dr. Sheila Hassell Hughes, the research is being conducted in partnership with evolutionary biologist Dr. David Sloan Wilson and Human Energy's partner organization ProSocial World, which is implementing an expanded version of this protocol in its own courses. The course examines current evolutionary science narratives alongside religious and mythic origin stories to explore how the Darwinian model is framed and misframed.

This 2024-2025 exploratory research study is assessing how learning about scientific evolutionary principles through a rhetoric of science course influences students' sense of hope and optimism. The study examines whether emphasizing prosocial evolutionary concepts—such as group cooperation, well-being, adaptability, and group participation—leads to increased optimism and/or personal sense of wellbeing. Course content analyzes scientific discourses through the lens of public good and human flourishing, with students practicing engagement using these perspectives. Under Primary Investigator Dr. Ellen Rigsby, the research is being conducted in partnership with evolutionary biologist Dr. David Sloan Wilson and Human Energy's partner organization ProSocial World, which is implementing an expanded version of this protocol in its own courses. This study aims to fill knowledge gaps surrounding the cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual impacts of learning different perspectives in science rhetoric contexts.

This pilot study was conducted at Saint Mary’s College, in 2021, to investigate whether dynamic conversation strategies could be effective in helping undergraduate students to grasp the complex and abstract concept of the noosphere, particularly in relation to the concept of the techno-social dilemma. The qualitative research study involved thematic, coded analysis of nine structured, hour-long 1-1 interviews with undergraduate students. Results of this research suggest that, in a single one-hour conversation, prefaced by viewing two short videos, it is possible to teach college students the new, highly abstract concept of the noosphere; and that learning the concept is not the same as adopting it. Researchers concluded that contextualized knowledge, such as what happens in the classroom, is likely to generate more serious engagement and readiness to adopt a noospheric perspective.

The Science of the Noosphere Masterclass (2023), a collaboration between Human Energy and ProSocial World, aimed to unite a diverse group of participants interested in exploring the concept of the noosphere. The main learning objective of the course was the co-development of a worldview that can lead to worldwide cooperation.

Over the course of 10 weeks, the online class delved into the 25 video conversations comprising Human Energy’s Science of the Noosphere video series, under the leadership of Professor David Sloan Wilson. Each video interview features experts discussing scientific concepts related to the noosphere. With many of the experts serving as guest speakers in the Master Class, peer interaction and engagement were integral to the learning experience, leading to the emergence of self-organized interest groups. The Master Class served as a unique laboratory for studying how minds can change within the context of collaborative learning, emphasizing research conducted with participants rather than on them. Pre- and posttest measures, including psychometric surveys and analysis tools like Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and daily measurements using the Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT), revealed significant outcomes. Further analysis, using natural language processing techniques is underway. The initial report, “Exploring the Noosphere: Uniting Minds, Shaping Futures,” is now available.