Cluny Institute · ZOË Conference

Napa Valley · July 26–28

Full Scholarship — Apply by July 10

ZOË: Science, Technology, and the Human Person

ZOË — Greek for life — is the Cluny Institute's 2026 conference, July 26–28 at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa Valley. Three days bringing together leaders from Athens (arts and philosophy), Jerusalem (faith and religion), and Silicon Valley (technology and venture) to ask the most basic and urgent questions: What is life? What does abundant life look like now? Who embodies it — in people, companies, institutions, and culture?

This year's speakers include Patrick Collison, Bryan Johnson, Ben Klutsey (Mercatus Center), Ruxandra Teslo (Cambridge genomics), Rebecca Lowe (philosopher, Mercatus), Catherine Pakaluk (Catholic University of America), Dana Gioia, and others. See the full program →

We're offering a few full scholarships for early-career researchers, writers, and thinkers working at the intersection of science, technology, and the human person — people with genuine subject-matter depth and something real to say about it.

Who we're looking for

Candidates should come with real subject-matter depth and the background needed to speak credibly to technical and policy audiences. We are looking for rising thinkers and writers who can examine the future of scientific discovery through the lens of institutional design, incentives, governance, and human flourishing — and communicate that work to audiences outside their field. Possible areas of focus include:

  • ✦AI and emerging technology policy, and their effects on research in the biological and physical sciences
  • ✦Science funding structures, regulatory design, and innovation ecosystems
  • ✦New scientific frontiers opened by new discoveries, instruments, and frameworks
  • ✦The moral and civic implications of accelerating discovery — for individuals and for society

What's covered

  • ✦Full conference ticket ($795 value)
  • ✦Hotel at the Meritage Resort & Spa, Napa
  • ✦All meals during the conference
  • ✦Travel to and from Napa

Three questions. Five minutes. Deadline: July 10 — we'll notify recipients by July 14.

01

The labs, the funding, the incentives — not just the results.

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02

When the incentives, the people, or the institutions shaped what got discovered — or didn't.

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03

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Are you open to a year-long fellowship in the Washington, DC area?

Cluny is exploring a full-time research fellowship program beginning as early as this Fall. No commitment — just gauging interest.

Deadline: July 10 · Recipients notified by July 14