"Templeton Foundation, U. of C. make wise funding decision" by Charles Storch, Chicago Tribune reporter, August 21, 2008

GRANTS AND GIVING

Templeton Foundation, U. of C. make wise funding decision

By Charles Storch

Chicago Tribune reporter

August 21, 2008

The wisdom of the ages could use freshening up.

That's the thinking at the John Templeton Foundation, which has teamed with the University of Chicago to see whether there are any bright new ideas about wisdom. They have invited 40 predominantly young scholars from around the world here for the next few days to present research proposals and compete for Templeton grants worth around $100,000 over two years.

This is not some fuzzy-headed exercise, said U. of C. psychology professor John Cacioppo, one of this project's principals.

"We're trying to develop a science of wisdom," he said. "We want to create a network of scholars across disciplines to help us bring this abstract concept under the lens of science."

The Templeton Foundation, founded by the late investor and philanthropist John Templeton, is known for handing out rich prizes and seeking answers to big ideas, whether they be about faith, science, human purpose, even unconditional love. Its exploration of wisdom is new, said Barnaby Marsh, the Philadelphia-area philanthropy's director of strategic initiatives.

Marsh observed that "a lot of the definitions of wisdom today are grounded in ancient writings, but are they relevant today? We need a new viewing of wisdom in the 21st Century."

For example, he asked, is wisdom more than the understanding and judgment that comes from knowledge and experience? Does it also require the humility of knowing one's areas of ignorance? Can wisdom be measured or taught?

Templeton is giving the U. of C. $2.96 million over three years to explore these and other notions; of that amount, $2 million will go to some 20 deep thinkers deemed to have the worthier research topics.

Last year, the school issued a worldwide call for proposals, limiting the field to experts who had received their "terminal" degree (PhD, MD, JD, etc.) no later than 1997.

"We thought we would start with young scholars in hopes of getting cutting-edge approaches," said Cacioppo.

He said he was stunned when 631 proposals were submitted. The submissions underwent a peer review by experts around the world and then by an 11-member council, which includes Cacioppo, other U. of C. faculty and Marsh. In January, the field was narrowed to 40. They are expected here Thursday and Friday for a "wisdom symposium" at U. of C.'s Gleacher Center downtown.

The council will hear their presentations Friday, then adjourn Saturday to pick 20 grant recipients. The selection probably will be announced about a week later.

The grant's main requirement is that the recipients reconvene annually over the next two years. Cacioppo expects a book to be produced from these studies. Marsh believes Templeton has made a wise investment in teaming with U. of C. Templeton is giving the school more than $4 million over three years for a similar exploration—of virtue.

Grants: The Department of Veteran Affairs is giving $3 million to a joint effort by Loyola University Chicago's Niehoff School of Nursing and Hines VA Hospital to help ease a critical shortage of nurses within the VA system and the Chicago area.

The Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Chicago, added $500,000 to the $1 million it previously gave to St. Xavier University's endowment campaign, which raised $2.5 million. The Chicago school also is to receive nearly $2 million over five years from the Education Department for a program to increase student engagement in learning.

Kraft Foods is giving $100,000 for large commercial coolers and freezers for Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

People:Janet Fregulia is the new executive director of Moose Charities Inc. Succeeding her as chief executive of Women of the Moose is Barbara McPherson. ... Jennifer Strait joined Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation as program officer. ... Youth Job Center of Evanston elected as its board president James Kauffman.

cstorch@tribune.com

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