Dr. Ray Lewis and Team Receives Grant for Textbook on Origins
Dr. Ray Lewis is part of a team of Wheaton College faculty who have been given a grant through the BioLogos Foundation to write a textbook on origins!
This project will enable development of a general college-level textbook on scientific theories of origins. Book content and pedagogy follows from the authors’ sixteen years of teaching Theories of Origins, a general education science course at Wheaton College that provides an overview of mainstream scientific theories for the creation of the universe, earth, life, diversity of life, and humankind. The authors will guide the reader through origins theories and introduce approaches for relating scientific and biblical accounts of creation.
They hope that this textbook will facilitate the development of similar courses at Christian colleges, high schools, or home schools. Christian students who are studying origins in secular educational settings would also benefit from this book, as would seminary students, pastors and Christian scholars seeking an objective, introductory background in these topics.
A website will accompany the textbook providing complementary resources and updates to the text on origins studies and relevant biblical scholarship.
For further information visit:
http://biologos.org/ecf/grantees/a-textbook-for-teaching-scientific-theories
Congratulations Dr. Lewis!
Senior Biology Major, Bruce Larkin - Reflections on Science and Faith
I recently had dinner with a friend and prospective Wheaton student while she was visiting the school. During the course of our conversation, she became adamant that there are no benefits to learning from a Christian perspective. Though disagreeing with her assertions, I encouraged her to study science at Wheaton because of the tremendous impact Wheaton professors have had in deepening my love for science and understanding of how science and faith relate. Further, their example of how to perform science as a Christian will be invaluable as I engage in philosophical discussions with future colleagues and attempt to engage in every activity as worship to God.
The professors are what makes attending Wheaton so worthwhile. Their commitment to aiding the growth of their student’s passions for academics and God is truly astounding. Personally, I would not be a scientist had not one professor in particular reached out to me. As an underclassman, I disliked scientific research and was studying biology merely so that I could get into medical school. I struggled in the lab in part because habits caused by my obsessive compulsive disorder made performing research unbearable. Overwhelmed by and uninterested in biological research, I decided to drop my biology major. Word of my decision spread and this professor sought me out to talk to me about my decision. Due to past experiences of teachers openly mocking my condition, I was ashamed of my struggle with OCD and kept it a secret. The love I had witnessed in my Wheaton professors, however, made me feel comfortable opening up to this professor. I felt surprisingly reassured by her response. She told me that she had seen her brother struggle with OCD and would willingly help me become comfortable with doing research. This professor’s encouragement gave me confidence, and I have since fallen in love with scientific research. Research allows the scientist to experientially learn the intricacies of a specific phenomenon and have a sense of purpose that they are contributing previously undisclosed knowledge. These both lead to greater appreciation of the natural world and how God is glorified through it. I owe my enriched appreciation of science to this professor for gently encouraging me to give research a second chance.
Just as learning is best done experientially and not through merely memorizing ideas, my scientific worldview has been impacted most by actively engaging with science alongside my Christian professors. By hearing them recount their experiences in secular labs, I know what ethical issues to expect upon graduation and how to best witness to my colleagues. I have also learned that as a Christian, the goal of research is not to somehow prove that God exists. Rather, my motivation is to work my hardest and glorify Him in the process. Most importantly, my professors have repeatedly emphasized to view research as worship. God’s majesty and power are clearly demonstrated in everything in science from the vastness of the universe to the complexity of cells. Because of this, every scientific observation provides an opportunity to be in awe and glorify our Maker.
There is a popular misconception that science and religion are in conflict. More specifically, many atheists and Christians argue that either evolution or the Bible invalidate the other. This idea is something that I struggled with for a long time. In high school, I was confident that evolution had to be wrong in light of what Scripture taught. I probably would still be in denial of the scientific evidence for evolution if I attended a secular school. The trust and respect I had for my professors, however, compelled me to rethink my position on this supposed controversy. If God is a rational God who does not lie (Numbers 23:19), He would neither create the world in a way that is contrary to His Word nor in a way that is inconsistent with science. Therefore, scripture and science must both be true. The details of how this plays out is complex and beyond the scope of this essay. Nevertheless, the transparency of my Wheaton professors has given me the confidence to wrestle and pray through these issues and come up with answers which are both theologically and scientifically sound. I am also better able to think through these questions critically and appropriately because of my liberal arts training. For example, Bible courses have informed me that the ancient Jews did not interpret Genesis 1 to be an explanation of how God created the earth, but rather how He gave creation function. This supports the argument that scripture is not in direct opposition to science. More importantly, my liberal arts education has taught me to approach complex issues from the Fides Quaerens Intellectum (faith seeking understanding) perspective. By starting my search for truth with the assumption that God exists, it becomes evident that all other truths glorify, support the existence of, and provide a better understanding of God. I should not become frustrated when the relationship between faith and science does not immediately make sense because the purpose of the integration of theology and other disciplines is not to prove God, but rather to better understand Him. This compels me to humbly trust God as I think through these issues. Hopefully, the opportunity I’ve had to think critically about these issues will prepare me to more effectively witness to future colleagues.
Before coming to Wheaton, I, like my friend, did not believe that there was any significant benefit from learning material from a Christian perspective. It has since become abundantly clear that a Christian liberal arts education portrays academia in its purest form because it demonstrates how God is glorified in the subject being studied. The small class sizes and shared Christian convictions allow for professors to mentor students and challenge them in their understanding of doing science as a Christian. I am forever indebted to my Wheaton professors for shaping my worldview and demonstrating how to perform science as a Christian.
Holly Bachilas Senior Biology Major Returns from the HNGR Program in Uganda
For six months last year, I had the opportunity to live, learn, and serve at Kagando Hospital in western Uganda as part of the Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) program. I left the US in May, not quite sure what to expect during my time in Uganda, but soon after I arrived I realized that the uncertainties, questions, and challenges were meant to teach me to trust God and rely on the people He put in my life in that new context. I spent most of my days observing and helping out on different wards in the 250-bed hospital, meeting new friends, eating new foods, and conducting a research project on adherence to antiretroviral treatment under the supervision of Dr. Kristen Page. Now that I am back at Wheaton, I am beginning the process of reconciling the very real health needs that I saw in Uganda with the resources that I have been given so abundantly. I suspect (and hope) that this process will direct my thoughts as I consider a career in medicine in the future.
Biology Students Organize a Journal Club
To help students grow in their understanding of and passion for scientific research, Symbiosis, Wheaton’s biology club, has organized a research seminar and journal clubs for the Spring semester. The research seminar will consist of a research presentation given by an outside speaker once a month in February, March, and April. During the three weeks preceding each presentation, journal clubs will be held on articles related to the speaker’s research. Journal clubs will entail reading a select journal article beforehand and participating in a discussion led by a Wheaton faculty member on the reading. All journal clubs will be held on Thursdays. Students are currently reading articles about prostate diseases in anticipation for Dr. Vander Griend’s talk on February 11th.
February Research Seminar:
Dr. Donald Vander Griend (Director of Urological Stem Cell Research and Assistant Professor of Surgery/Urology at the University of Chicago) will discuss his research on the role epithelial stem cells have in causing prostate diseases, including prostate cancer and BPH. Dr. Vander Griend will be presenting on Monday, February 11th at 4:00 pm in SCI 145.
March Research Seminar:
David Geenen (Assistant Professor of Physiology in Medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago) will discuss his research on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to combat cardiac dysfunction. Dr. Geenen will be presenting on Monday, March 25th at 4:00 pm in SCI 145.
April Research Seminar:
Mapping the Origins Debate
Former Wheaton Adjunct Professor, Dr. Gerald Rau (chief editor at Professional English International, Inc.) will discuss his new book on the different approaches Christians and others take on evolution and creation. Dr. Rau’s presentation will be held on Tuesday, April 16th at 4:15 pm in SCI 145.
Biology Majors Maria Panaggio ‘14 and Rebecca Newbrander ‘15, received the Health Scholars Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year.
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| Maria Panaggio '14 |
Rebecca Newbrander '15 |
The Health Scholars Scholarship is a highly competitive award that attracts applicants from multiple majors. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply. Among the selection criteria taken into consideration is science GPA, overall GPA, student essays, credit hours completed and completion of certain science classes.
After graduating from Wheaton, Maria plans to continue her education in medical school or physician's assistant school. Then, after completing medical school, she hopes to either return overseas to her home in Peru to serve the poor or to work with underserved Hispanic populations in the United States.
Rebecca’s summer internship at a hospital in Central Asia confirmed God’s calling on her life to serve Him as a medical missionary. Following graduation from Wheaton and medical school, Rebecca plan’s to pursue service in a developing country. Rebecca’s passion is to minister to the whole person, meeting spiritual as well as physical and emotional needs.
Biology Major Andrew Kilgore '14 Receives the Great Physicians Scholarship
Andrew Kilgore received The Great Physician Scholarship this year which is a very competitive scholarship. Students must be a sophomore, junior or senior pre-med student with at least a GPA of 3.5, and submit two essays responding to these questions: “Why are you pursuing a medical degree?”, and “How will you incorporate your faith into the practice of medicine?” The award is applied toward spring tuition.
“During my time at Wheaton, God has faithfully led me to discover where my deep passion and the world’s great needs intersect. Through various cross-cultural experiences and my studies in the liberal arts, I’ve been drawn to a career in healthcare, as medicine provides a way to tangibly communicate Christ’s love. Ultimately, my goal is to use medicine as a platform for serving the poor and making disciples, just as Christ did during his days on Earth. While I don’t yet know where this pursuit will lead me, I hope to begin exploring the possibility of serving in a cross-cultural setting. I’m excited to continue discovering medicine’s role in promoting individual and systemic reconciliation, especially in the global south and urban contexts. Wherever I end up, I look forward to learning to love Christ more as I seek to serve Him by providing medical care to those who need it most.
Senior Ally McGrath Combines Wheaton in Chicago with a Biology Internship
This past semester, I participated in the Wheaton in Chicago program. In addition to courses, I completed an internship at Heartland Health Outreach as an Outreach Intern. Heartland Health Outreach is an organization that seeks to provide primary, mental health care, and dental care, for people experiencing homelessness or living with HIV/AIDS. Heartland provides care at their primary health center, but also sends health care providers to homeless shelters throughout the city to meet participants where they are. I had the opportunity work in both the health center and at outreach locations. Through this internship, I saw firsthand various obstacles within the health care system faced by vulnerable urban populations, specifically the homeless population. While this program opened my eyes to brokenness within systems, I also gained a great appreciation for the beauty of the city of Chicago and its inhabitants. This internship helped me see God’s hand at work in the city and also gave me greater clarity to see how my interests in biology and health care connect to Christ’s redeeming work.
Senior Biology Major, Miles Greenwald Describes His Ecuador Internship
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| Miles with the maintenance staff at the hospital |
Hospital Vozandes del Oriente with volcanos Sangay and Altar in the background
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“This past fall, I spent 3 months in the rain forest of Ecuador working at a mission hospital, Hospital Vozandes del Oriente. While at the hospital I helped take vital signs, observed and helped with patient consultations, surgeries and in the emergency room. One highlight was getting to scrub in on a C-section! I also got to go to the house that Nate Saint lived in before going to work with the Huarani Indians. I even flew into the jungle and met the only man still living who participated in the killing of the missionaries who now is a Christian.”
Economic Botany Class Goes to the Chicago Botanic Garden
Dr. Ray Lewis took students from his Economic Botany class on a field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Dr. Lewis says, “The statue that most of these students are emulating is of a young Carl Linnaeus, the famous Swedish botanist, reaching for a plant.
Linnaeus gave us our current system of taxonomy [the science of dealing with the description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms].”
Pictured in this photo (from left to right) are Sarah Kuechle ’14, Christie Veth ’13, Joel Miner ’14, Allison Hayes ’14, Joel Brewer ’13, Jennifer Lequieu ’13, Jordan Snyder ’13, Nahayo Esperant ’13, Drew Dickelman ’13, Ryan Fisher ’13, Kymberly Grove ’13, Taylor Gevry ’13, Elise Dunkerton ’13, and Rachel Kuntz ’14.
Jinhee Jo, Senior Biology Major Presents at Argonne
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| Jinhee Jo standing in front of Argonne |
Jinhee presenting her research |
Jinhee Jo, senior biology major, presented the results of her collaborative research with Dr. Ray Lewis at the Argonne Undergraduate Symposium on October 26, 2012. Her presentation on “Evidence for Salinity Ecotypes in the Brown Alga Alaria marginata” demonstrated differences in optimal salinity for the production of eggs in two strains of Alaria marginata taken from habitats of differing salinity. Jinhee is currently continuing research on these same species to see if there is a similar effect of salinity on the production of sperm in these two putative ecotypes.
Biology 243 Class Learns about Dispersion Patterns
Dr. Kristen Page’s class, Biology 243 Processes of Life, measured dispersion patterns of goldenrod galls on goldenrod at Herrick Lake. Dispersion is one of the attributes of a population, so it's one way to describe a population. It is referring to the position of individuals relative to one another. If a population is uniform, individuals use behavior to space evenly. If they are clumped, they are settled around a resource. If it’s random, then there are no interactions. Students learn to use statistics to estimate how a population is dispersed when there is not an obvious pattern.