Ben Parker Student Center Colorado School of Mines
Callings in Conflict
Thursday, Feb. 15
Pursuing Scientific Excellence & A Life of Faith
Widespread sentiment suggests that science and faith are at odds, at war for leadership in modern culture. Yet many of history’s great minds were people of deep faith. They were driven to science by an insatiable hunger to learn about and celebrate God. Can Christians working in the sciences recover this passion without compromising professional excellence?
Can we seek truth in science and in Scripture?
Join Denver Institute for Faith & Work, Cornell genomicist Praveen Sethupathy, and a panel of local scientists to explore these seemingly conflicting callings. Together, we’ll consider how those working in the sciences can serve as ambassadors, to both the science and faith communities and explore ways science and faith can have a positive, fruitful influence on each other.
Whether you work in renewable energy, a university lab, or the biotech industry, join us to examine practical principles for integrating your callings.
Speakers & Panelists
Praveen Sethupathy received his BA degree from Cornell University and his PhD in Genomics from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Francis Collins, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At Cornell, his lab specializes in research centered on the role of non-coding RNAs (in particular microRNAs) in genetic, microbial, dietary, and environmental control of metabolic health and disease. Praveen has authored over 70 publications, and has served as a reviewer for over 30 different journals. He serves on the Board of Directors of BioLogos, a nonprofit that promotes the harmony of science and biblical faith through an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation.
Angela Kantola was the deputy director of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program from 1989 until her retirement in December 2017. This program received a Department of Interior Cooperative Conservation Award in 2008 and is considered a national model demonstrating that public/private partnerships can work to recover endangered species and resolve Endangered Species Act-related conflicts. Angela has pursued her vocation with the understanding of conservation as calling to care for God's good creation. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife ecology from Oklahoma State University and the University of Florida. Angela began her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a graduate student in 1983, working with West Indian manatees and studying Sherman's fox squirrels. Before coming to Colorado, Angela spent three years working on endangered species recovery in the southeastern U.S. Angela and her husband, Don Wallace, live in the foothills above Littleton, CO. Angela has been active with a number of Christian environmental organizations and in facilitating retreats helping people to rediscover God’s presence in creation.
Brent Nelson has worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for over 30 years, spending most of his career studying thin-film solar cells. He currently manages a group of data and research equipment specialists who support technologies ranging from photovoltaics to nanoparticle generation to fuel cells to batteries to other energy-related material systems.
Dr. Terry Gray received his B.S. in molecular biology from Purdue University and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Oregon. He has been a biology, chemistry, and biochemistry instructor/professor at Calvin College, Colorado State University (CSU), and FRCC. He has also been a staff scientist in the Chemistry Department at CSU where he wore many hats: IT support, network and system administration, instructional computing, and computational chemist. He recently has written two eBooks with colleague Tony Rappé: Energy: What the World Needs Now and Molecules of Life with a Chemistry Bootcamp. He is currently also part of team developing a new course at CSU with a corresponding eBook on Sustainable Strategies for Electronic Waste Management.
Brian is the VP of Formation here at DIFW and also leads our 5280 Fellowship program. Prior to landing at DIFW, he served in pastoral ministry for thirteen years and at Denver Seminary for four years. His vocation includes moving ideas out into life through relationships and conversation – whether that applies to God, work, the Church, good beer, or Liverpool Football Club. He married way out of his league, and spends most of his free-time being parented by his two daughters.