This competition is a program of the John Templeton Foundation, established in 1987 by Sir John Templeton, the pioneer of the global mutual fund. The mission of the Foundation is to pursue new insights at the boundary between theology and science through a rigorous, open-minded and empirically focused methodology, drawing together talented representatives from a wide spectrum of fields of expertise. In addition, the Foundation seeks to stimulate a quest for greater spiritual discovery and insight through research and reflection.

The Foundation funds more than 250 projects, studies, award programs, and publications worldwide. Through its programs, it seeks to encourage appreciation of the potential of free societies; to encourage institutions of learning to provide training that builds excellence in character; and to promote the understanding of the significant responsibilities associated with the moral, political, and economic aspects of freedom.

The Foundation’s engagement within the subject area of purpose can also be found in the following Foundation-funded programs:

Youth Purpose Project
Stanford Center on Adolescence

The Youth Purpose project is a multi-year research endeavor funded by the John Templeton Foundation, designed to investigate what types of commitments young people hold and how they develop. The project’s interest in purpose is fueled by the conviction that it can play a powerfully generative role in development and can guard against adverse outcomes, yet purpose has been seldom studied as a force in its own right.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/adolescent.ctr/newindex.html

Biology and Purpose
John Templeton Foundation

This multi-phase $3 million research program is intended to generate new spiritual information to illuminate purpose in the living world. The program will encourage people to look at the living world differently, to approach the study or analysis of biology as a source of potential insight into purpose in the universe.

For further information, please contact Paul K. Wason, Ph.D. at pwason@templeton.org

Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose
Higher Education Research Institute - University of California, Los Angeles

This major new program of research to track the spiritual growth of students during their college years employs a multi-institutional and longitudinal design to identify trends, patterns, and principles of spirituality and religiousness among college students. Included in the data collected will be measures of how students see themselves in the world; how they perceive their purpose. The research will stimulate discussion of curricular and other transformations in higher education.

http://www.spirituality.ucla.edu/

The William E. Simon Fellowship Prize for Noble Purpose
Intercollegiate Studies Institute

The Simon Fellowship will recognize graduating college seniors who have demonstrated a high capacity for self-direction, originality, and determination in pursuit of a noble purpose that will strengthen civil society. The Fellowship will provide three winners each year cash prizes totaling $50,000 to pursue their noble purposes.

www.isi.org

Visit the Foundation website www.templeton.org.