Taylor Fall Seminar Series Explores Science’s Role in Assisting “The Least of These”

09.11.2009

"Servant Science - Meeting the Needs of Society and the Least of These Among Us," is the theme of the 45th Annual Natural Sciences Seminar at Taylor University.

The annual seminar features presentations by a number of guest speakers who include William Austin, executive director of Affordable Transportation; Nathan Roth, a family physician from Indianapolis, Ind.; Dr. Jeffery Dodge, a researcher from Eli Lilly; and Dr. Oveta Fuller, a microbiologist and immunologist from the University of Michigan. Presentations by a number of Taylor science faculty members are also scheduled.

Topics range from AIDS and education to prosthetics, recovery from natural disasters and sustainability. Each seminar meeting takes place at 4:00 p.m. every Monday throughout the fall semester in Room 123 at the Nussbaum Science Center on the Taylor campus. The public is invited; there is no charge for admission.

"Natural science is a powerful way of knowing about our Father's world, and through applications of our scientific knowledge, including technology and engineering, we have a powerful way of caring for his creation and his people, especially the least of these among us," said Dr. Michael Guebert, professor of earth and environmental science at Taylor.

"This Science Seminar Series will present examples of how Christian scientists and engineers are combining their professional knowledge and faith-based ethics to serve society," he said. "We will hear from professionals working in areas of science education, medical research, disaster response, water resources, sustainable agriculture, engineering, and appropriate technology. These applications all facilitate service to society, especially those greatest in need and least in means to provide for themselves."

September 14
"Challenges in Providing Science Education to the Least of These"
Stefan Brandle, PhD, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Taylor University
Science education is a difficult task in all societies, but providing education for the poor and under-privileged in the developing world includes additional challenges. Based on his wide experience of living, learning and working in developing countries - including his recent Fulbright Scholar year in Mauritius - Dr. Brandle will present some of the challenges he has experienced and provide suggestions on how to overcome them.

September 21
"Basic Vehicles. Changed Lives."
William Austin, Executive Director, Institute for Affordable Transportation
Imagine a small, simple vehicle. Slow, yet rugged enough to transport heavy loads over poor road conditions. Convinced that such a vehicle could enable millions to improve their standard of living, our speaker combined his education and international experience in mechanical engineering, transportation, and business administration to create the Institute for Affordable Transportation. Come hear how a basic utility vehicle can facilitate kingdom work in developing countries.

September 28
"Modern Prosthetics: High Tech, Low Tech and No Tech"
Matthew Habecker, Research Prosthetist/Orthotist, VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Ind.
With a boost from the Taylor Business Competition Grant, Habecker created Kinematics, a company that designs prosthetic/orthotic systems for individuals. Combining his scientific training and Biblical faith, he will present a concise overview of how modern prosthetic principles and approaches apply to different patient populations and social settings, including the unique human and spiritual elements of this unique type of patient care.

October 5
"Serving Christ through Inner-City Medical Care for the Poor"
Nathan Roth '00, M.D., Family Physician, Raphael Health Center, Indianapolis, Ind.
Roth attended Taylor and medical school intending ultimately to serve in a developing country. While he still participates in medical missions, he primarily shares Christ's love with medically underserved people in the States. Hear how Nathan decided to practice family medicine in Indianapolis and how the ministry of Raphael Health Center provides high-quality health care for the underserved in a setting that openly shares the love and healing of Jesus Christ.

October 12
"AIDS Science: A Mandate from God and a Prescription for Hope"
Carolyn Klaus, M.D., Executive Director, Hope in View, Goshen, Ind.
AIDS is a complicated illness-virologically, therapeutically, and epidemiologically. From her many years of caring for AIDS patients in inner-city Philadelphia and on four continents, Dr. Klaus will explain why Christians have a unique interest in AIDS science, where inaccurate understandings can lead to inadequate interventions with moral implications on a grand scale.

FRIDAY October 16 - HOMECOMING SEMINAR -2009 Distinguished Young Alumnus for Professional Achievement
"Our Fathers World: Environmental Science and Society in International Crises"
Paul Wagner '02, International Response Specialist, Food for the Hungry International-AfricaNatural disasters and human conflicts often result in the loss of civil and social services, placing greater stress on limited natural resources. Since 2002, Paul has served as a humanitarian aid worker responding to complex crises and natural disasters on four continents. Join our 2009 recipient of the Young Alumnus Award as he discusses the important environmental science and social considerations in providing relief and development in response to these crises.

October 19
"Critical Interdisciplinary Approaches to AIDS and Sustainable Community Development"
Barak Bruerd '99, Blood:Water Mission, Africa Programs Director
As a missionary kid and a student of international development and water resources, Barak has developed a passion for working with impoverished tribal communities. In this presentation, he will share personal examples and case-studies from the Water and AIDS sectors of international development that show how an interdisciplinary examination of the complex factors of poverty assists development practitioners produce comprehensive solutions with sustainable results.

October 26
"Exploring Human Viral Pathogens: Enabling Religious Leaders with Innovation, Purpose, Courage, and Truth to Combat HIV/AIDS"
Oveta Fuller, PhD. Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, and
Pastor, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Adrian, Mich.
As a biomedical scientist and a clergy person, Dr. Fuller combines understanding of research advances about disease transmission with ministry experiences to develop models to address HIV/AIDS in the US and Africa. She will share impacts of a prevention intervention that provides religious leaders the science-based training that builds confidence in using their substantial community access and influence to effectively lead in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases.

November 2 (World Opportunities Week)
"Biblical Missions: Appropriate Technology for the Kingdom"
Phil Bjorklund, Mission Coach, World Venture, Denver, Colo.
As a missionary in Rwanda for fourteen years, Phil quickly realized that his ministry in Biblical teaching also required meeting physical needs; which was NOT part of his seminary training! Through trial and error he learned that offering help for physical needs required technology; but only technology that is appropriate for the culture, belief systems, politics, and development in that setting. Join Phil as he shares his journey into appropriate technology for the Kingdom.

November 9
"Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS): Learning and Serving the Poor in our Community"
William Oakes, PE, Director of EPICS, Associate Professor of Engineering Education, Purdue University
We often miss opportunities to apply what we are studying to serve the underserved in our communities. In this presentation, the speaker will share his story of making these connections through EPICS, a program in which students at all levels participate in multi-disciplinary design teams to solve long-term, technology-based problems. The student-generated results have produced significant benefits for the community, the students, and the speaker.

November 16
"Pharmanthropy: Pharmaceutical Research to Address Rare or Neglected Diseases"
Jeffrey Dodge, PhD, Research Fellow, Eli Lilly & Co, Indianapolis, Ind.
Despite progress in scientific understanding and in drug development, rare and neglected human diseases continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality, especially among poor populations worldwide. The burden is compounded by the re-emergence of diseases, such as dengue, African trypanosomiasis, and tuberculosis. Despite this trend, Dr. Dodge will present examples of pharmaceutical research to combat these rare and neglected diseases of human health.

November 23
"Building God's Kingdom on $2 a day: Sharing Science and Technology-Based Alternatives With the Poor"
Scott Deerwester, PhD., Founder and Director, Wildcat Center, Rossville, Ind.
What happens when you combine good science and engineering, a passion for God's Kingdom, and a desire to live and learn alternatives and pass them on to others? Our speaker has found answers from around the world in alternative crops, energy, technology, and economy. Scott will share what he has learned and what they're doing at the Wildcat Center to find better ways of living--particularly for people trapped in extreme poverty.

November 30
"Sustainable Agriculture: Seeds of Hope from ECHO"
Grace Ju Miller, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, Indiana Wesleyan University (formerly Seed Bank Manager, ECHO)
ECHO, a Christian organization with a research and demonstration farm in Florida, provides information on plants and cultivation techniques for missionaries and workers in over 160 countries. Our speaker will share how Christian agricultural workers use this information to help poor farmers in developing nations address erosion, drought, poor soils and malnutrition in sustainable, affordable and people-centered development.

December 7
"The Harvest is Great, but the Programmers are Few: Serving Global Missions through Computer Science"
Thomas Nurkkala, PhD, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Taylor University (and others)
Computer technology has become integral to the global missions community, but the needs of missions far outweigh the availability of mission-minded technologists. Our speaker (along with others) will review how the Taylor computing community has been helping meet these needs for decades, and present a vision for the future of mission computing at Taylor and throughout the global missions community.

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Ind. The 2010 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's third straight top ranking following ten straight years of being ranked in the region's Top Three.
 
Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).