Professing Christ in the Sciences, PART 1
Professing Christ in the Sciences, Part 2
Professing Christ in the Sciences was a panel discussion and Q&A with IU science professors on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at 3 PM in Woodburn 101. Ben Burlingham, PhD, James C. Williams, PhD, and F. Collin Hobbs, PhD, all hold credentials from major research universities and are respected teachers in their fields.
But they have something else in common. They are all Christians. They believe that God made the world and all things in it.
How do these professors of chemistry, biology, and anatomy reconcile their faith and their scientific research? What do they believe, and why do they believe it? What comes first? Science or religion?
But they have something else in common. They are all Christians. They believe that God made the world and all things in it.
How do these professors of chemistry, biology, and anatomy reconcile their faith and their scientific research? What do they believe, and why do they believe it? What comes first? Science or religion?
Ben Burlingham, PhD (senior lecturer, IU chemistry) received a BS in biochemistry at Grove City College in 1996. After serving as the program director of a Christian youth camp for one year, he started graduate work in organic chemistry at Indiana University. Under the direction of Prof. Ted Widlanski, he conducted research in the synthesis of novel enzyme inhibitors. After completing the PhD in 2002, Dr. Burlingham became Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Mount Union, where he received tenure in 2008. He served as visiting professor at IU for a number of summer sessions, and now serves as teaching faculty at IU fulltime.
Dr. Burlingham's teaching interests span general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. He has spent a significant amount of time in the development of guided-inquiry labs in organic chemistry. Ben is especially interested in developing two cycle curricular approaches for organic chemistry, which might better serve students in this time of substantial curricular change being proposed by groups such as the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Dr. Burlingham's teaching interests span general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. He has spent a significant amount of time in the development of guided-inquiry labs in organic chemistry. Ben is especially interested in developing two cycle curricular approaches for organic chemistry, which might better serve students in this time of substantial curricular change being proposed by groups such as the Association of American Medical Colleges.
James C. Williams, PhD (professor, IU School of Medicine) received a BS from Rhodes College in 1978, a PhD from Cornell University in 1983, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham from 1982–86.
After 4 years as an assistant professor in the dept. of anatomy & cell biology at Medical University of South Carolina, and 15 years as an associate professor in the dept. of anatomy & cell biology at IU School of Medicine, he was given full professorship in 2006 at IU.
His research focuses on understanding more about kidney stones and more effectively treating them. His lab at IU works in close collaboration with researchers and surgeons around the world.
After 4 years as an assistant professor in the dept. of anatomy & cell biology at Medical University of South Carolina, and 15 years as an associate professor in the dept. of anatomy & cell biology at IU School of Medicine, he was given full professorship in 2006 at IU.
His research focuses on understanding more about kidney stones and more effectively treating them. His lab at IU works in close collaboration with researchers and surgeons around the world.
Dr. F. Collin Hobbs earned his PhD in ecological and evolutionary biology from Indiana University in 2013, and joined the faculty of Huntington University later that year. Prior to his graduate work he received a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in music performance from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. His PhD thesis at Indiana University examined the biogeography and phylogeography of disjunct eastern hemlock populations.
Dr. Hobbs teaches courses in botany, ecology, microbiology, cell biology, and environmental science. He is interested in the scholarship of teaching and learning and was recently the lead author on a paper published in CBE – Life Sciences Education. In addition, he has presented a number of talks on science pedagogy at national conferences. His primary research interests include the ecology of isolated plant populations and the identification and distribution mapping of plant species using aerial imagery. He has considerable experience working with remote sensing technology and with molecular tools such as microsatellite markers (SSRs) and T-RFLP as well as basic field ecology techniques.
Collin and his wife Kara have four young daughters. Family activities include gardening, reading, canoeing, church events, and tackling daddy.
Dr. Hobbs teaches courses in botany, ecology, microbiology, cell biology, and environmental science. He is interested in the scholarship of teaching and learning and was recently the lead author on a paper published in CBE – Life Sciences Education. In addition, he has presented a number of talks on science pedagogy at national conferences. His primary research interests include the ecology of isolated plant populations and the identification and distribution mapping of plant species using aerial imagery. He has considerable experience working with remote sensing technology and with molecular tools such as microsatellite markers (SSRs) and T-RFLP as well as basic field ecology techniques.
Collin and his wife Kara have four young daughters. Family activities include gardening, reading, canoeing, church events, and tackling daddy.