Volume 36, Number 1                                                                            January/February 1994

CSCA Supports Film Series

The Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation, ASA's counterpart to the north, brought busy ASA Executive Director Bob Herrmann to the U. of Toronto to present Templeton Lectures for the Annual CSCA Conference with the theme, "Seeing God Through Science." Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation, Saturday, 23 October 93 began with "God and the New Science," presenting interesting insights relating to revelations of the divine in contemporary science. Bob co-authored The God Who Would Be Known: Revelations of the Divine in Contemporary Science with Sir John Templeton. The two are now working on a second book, Is God the Only Reality?, to be published in 1994. At the afternoon lecture, "Space, Time and God," Bob explained how the ASA is attempting to reach a broader audience through the six-part film series by the same title, which is in preparation for airing on Public Television.

A while in coming, the series ranges in subject matter from the Big Bang some 15 billion years ago to advances in DNA sequencing on the cutting edge of contemporary molecular biology. Uniquely blending astronomy, particle physics, earth sciences, history and anthropology, the series addresses the wider issues of who we are, where we come from, and what the meaning of life is ó in the style of "lively, accessible television," making use of state-of-the-art special effects as well as clips from the old TV series "Dragnet" ("Just give me the facts, ma'am.") and the feature film, Planet of the Apes, illustrating popular but unquestioned assumptions. The host and writer, Owen Gingerich, has the right mix of academic credentials (Harvard astronomer and chairman of the Department of the History of Science) and a flair for the dramatic. One of Harvard's most popular teachers, Owen demonstrates an experiment in Newtonian dynamics to an introductory class by using an activated fire extinguisher aboard a wheeled, Rube Goldberg-style device to propel him, at high velocity, towards the wings of the lecture hall, while a graduate assistant awaits off-stage to clatter trash-can lids, as if Gingerich has collided with the closed doors!

With his penchant for story-telling, Owen will accompany the viewer to sites as diverse as a Neanderthal cave, a Central American rain forest, the shores of Australia, the inside of a fusion reactor, and little-seen historical places like Copernicus' Cathedral in Poland. Quality production can be expected from executive producer and co-writer Geoff Haines-Stiles, who has received praise as producer and director of "The Creation of the Universe," which won an AAAS-Westinghouse Award for Science and Journalism.

In the months ahead, the production plan and budget are to be finalized, as Gingerich and Haines-Stiles have already plotted out the initial outlines for "Space, Time and God." Fund-raising for this project has been led by Herrmann and is also being supported by the CSCA Executive Council, who in a motion, "recommends to the membership that the CSCA accepts and supports the project ... and will assist it financially and in any way possible."

 Templeton Lectures Feature God and Science

On October 11, Owen Gingerich presented a Templeton Lecture, "Reflections on Natural Theology: Kepler's Anguish and Hawking's Query" at Indiana U. Considering the pros and cons of natural theology, he argued that it's unlikely to offer proof for the existence of God and that there is no contradiction between holding a staunch belief in supernatural design and being a creative scientist.

Preceding him on September 30, Howard Van Till of Calvin College and Langdon Gilkey, an emeritus theology professor at the University of Chicago, were at Notre Dame U. to present, respectively, "Evolution, Naturalism & Theism: Do evolutionary science and methodological naturalism conflict with historic Christian theism?" and "God and the Mystery of Nature." According to the abstract, Van Till's lecture argued that

"...extraordinary divine acts, although not proscribed, are not incorporated into scientific theories regarding the world's formative history. Some Christian critics of modern science have argued that this approach constitutes the sort of "methodological naturalism" that is rooted in Enlightenment thought and should be rejected by Christian scholars."

 In his lecture, Van Till examines this charge in the historic context of Church fathers Basil and Augustine and finds it to be "contrary to early Christian thought regarding the character of the created world-contrary to what might be called `the forgotten doctrine of Creation's functional integrity.'" Van Till's argument is developed more fully in the Hillsdale College book Man and Creation. (See "Hillsdale Volume a Good Resource" in Dec 1993 Newsletter for details.)

Bob Herrmann, as ASA Executive Director, organizes the Templeton Lectures. Arthur Peacocke and John Polkinghorne have been among 1992's speakers and have, along with Bruce Hedman, David G. Myers, and Howard Van Till, contributed to the first issue of Progress in Theology (Mar 1993), the quarterly newsletter of the John Templeton's Humility Theology Information Center. (Subscriptions are free upon request from P.O. Box 429, Topsfield, MA 01938-0629.)

"Creationism" Censored at SFSU

San Francisco State U. biology professor Dean Kenyon, a distinguished authority on chemical evolution, has been ordered not to teach "creationism" because he offered a critical assessment of evolutionary theory, according to an article written by Stephen C. Meyer. Meyer, a philosopher of science at Whitworth C. in Spokane, WA, wrote an article entitled, "Scientific Correctness in San Francisco: A Tale of Two Deans" which appeared as an editorial in the 6 Dec 93 Wall St. Journal, (p. A14). The piece was titled, "A Scopes Trial for the '90s"-with an inset: "DANGER, INDOCTRINATION."

Kenyon included origins lectures in an introductory course and presented pros and cons of evolutionary theory, including his own view that living systems display evidence of intelligent design. Because of student complaints, department head John Hafernik told Kenyon (according to Kenyon's testimony): "I order you not to discuss creationism in your class. You can regard that as a direct order! I have the support of the Dean."

When Kenyon asked for clarification as to what exactly he shouldn't discuss, from Dean James Kelley, Kelley insisted that Kenyon "teach the dominant scientific view" and not the religious view of "special creation on a young earth." Kenyon's reply (as paraphrased by Meyer) was: "I do not teach that the earth is young. I do teach the dominant view. But I also discuss problems with the dominant view and that some biologists see evidence of intelligent design. Please inform me of any impropriety in this approach." Instead of getting a reply from either Hafernik or Kelley, he was removed from teaching introductory biology and reassigned to labs.

After establishing himself as a leading authority in chemical evolution, by the late 1970s, subsequent experiments suggested to Kenyon that simple chemicals do not arrange themselves into information-bearing molecules such as DNA without "guidance" from human experimenters. By the 1980s, Kenyon was sympathetic to the possibility that a directing intelligence could have played a role in the origin of life.

Meyer points out two administration absurdities. First, the administration prevented Kenyon from teaching introductory biology when he knows perhaps as much as anyone about in the field because they would not allow him report the negative results. Second, they branded the idea of inferring "intelligent design" from biological data as unscientific biblicism when Kenyon's present view resulted from his scientific work and not an a priori religious commitment. Meyer is disturbed that the same kind of thought control that has paralyzed humanities faculties is occuring in the science by labeling Kenyon's view as "religious" while materialism is regarded as "scientific." However, some biology texts supporting Darwinism argue against intelligent design, tacitly acknowledging that both are categorical alternatives.

Meyer sums up such "scientific correctness":

" Thus, in a real sense those guilty of unscientific behavior ... are not scientists such as Kenyon who violate only the arbitrary conventions of ideological fashion, but those such as Hafernik and Kelley who enforce intellectual limitations that prevent open evaluation and discussion of evidence."

Kenyon's conclusions, not his methods, were what changed. SFSU's Academic Freedom Committee ruled in favor of Kenyon based on clear university guidelines encouraging "a broad range of perspectives" and "vigorous dialog, even controversy." But Dr. Hafernik and Dean Kelley apparently disagree, rejecting the recommendation. In the next move, the American Association of University Professors informed the university that they expect Kenyon's mistreatment to be rectified. The last word received is that Kenyon has been reinstated.  Jerry Bergman, John Wiester, David Swift

Law Meets Science

Scientists are not the only ones interested in science nowdays; lawyers are also discussing such origins topics as creation/evolution and cosmology. The 1993 ASA Annual Meeting was visited by lawyers such as Christian Legal Society board member Skeeter Ellis. And the CLS National Conference in Oct 1993 at Virginia Beach, VA was accompanied by the 1993 Origins Conference. Among the speakers was weekly TV series host and lecturer Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe, speaking on "How the Greatest Discovery of the Century Resolves the Creation-Evolution Debate," discussing how this debate has been impacted by recent scientific developments. Theoretical astrophysicist, Robert C. Newman, spoke on "Origins and Science and Religion." Additionally, Wendell R. Bird, Esq. spoke on "The Legal Aspects of Origins" and theologian R. C. Sproul, who was plenary speaker at the CLS Conference, also spoke at the Origins conference. Tapes from both conferences are available from the CLS on audio tape at $7.00 per cassette; order from: Wells Walker & Co., Inc., P.O. Box 19458, Alexandria, VA 22320-0458; (800) 645-6907. Tape numbers are: Ross, 32; Newman, 16; Bird, 15; Sproul, 17.

Internationalia

This issue, we take an extended look at overseas activity.

The European Society for the Study of Science and Theology is holding the "Fifth European Conference on Science and Technology" (ECST V) on the theme, "The Concept of Nature in Science and Theology" in Freising/Munich, Germany on Mar 23-27, 1994. Among participants are Templeton Foundation speakers Robert J. Russell of Berkeley, theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg, Werner Arber of Basil and Michael Heller of Cracowy and invited speakers Sophie Deicha of Paris and Evandro Agazzi of Fribourg. Ten workshops include such topics as: Nature and the Natural as Concepts, Theology of Nature, Reality and Nature, and Natural Processes and Human Intervention. For information and registration, write to: Dr. K. H. Reich, P”dagogisches Institut, Rte des FougËres, CH-1700 FRIBOURG; phone: Switzerland 37 219 638; fax: Switzerland 37 219 650.

"Cosmos and Creation: Chance or Dance?" is the "Cambridge '94" symposium put on by the C.S. Lewis Summer Institute at Queens' College, Cambridge U., England on 10-23 Jul 94. Exploring, through both the arts and sciences, contemporary Christian and secular understandings of origins-of the universe, of life and of humanity, its featured speakers are a constellation of luminaries. Science speakers included John Polkinghorne ("Science and Religion"), Owen Gingerich ("Galileo Galilei: The Christian as Scientist Confronts Academic and Religious Fundamentalism"), Dallas Willard, prof. of philosophy, USC ("The Methodologies of Science, Theology, Philosophy and the Arts") and ubiquitous law professor Phillip Johnson ("Darwin on Trial"). Much in the spirit of Clive Staples himself, the event will be full of a wide range of expression of cultural life: seminars, panel discussion, and workshops on choral music, drama, poetry, dance, the visual arts, film and creative writing. In addition, there will be evening concerts, plays and films; performance of "The Great Dance," a full-length ballet written by David Burns and based upon material from C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, and, of course, a tour of "The Kilns," Lewis's former home. Mor information on this concentration of a broad spectrum of life in one event can be obtained from the C.S. Lewis Foundation, P.O. Box 8008, Redlands, CA 92375; (909) 793-0949.

Joseph Clumpner spent his sabbatical year (1991-92) teaching in the People's Republic of China and took a group of Covenant College (TN) students there for six weeks in May 1993. Joe notes that a fourth of the world's population are Chinese and their government is asking for 35,000 foreign experts to come to China each year for the next four years to aid development. Joe and his wife, Karin, just returned from their second teaching experience in northeast China, and "found all students eager to learn and some coming to faith in God." Joe graduated from MIT with an S.M. in Chem. E. and has a Ph.D. from Yale U. in applied mechanics. His cosmopolitan background includes five years of teaching at the American U. in Beirut, and he is now directing a cooperative dual-degree program between Covenant C. and Georgia Tech. Interested in China? Contact Ben Draper at Friends of China, (215) 693-6485, which negotiates contracts and arranges transportation. Joe says, "Teaching in China can be a life-changing experience."

Rev. John Francis Hird of Bethany Beach, DE, offers the following helpful information on buying books from England. International Library Service, (Alcon, Church Street, Sulgrave, NR Banbury, OX17 2RP, ENGLAND; phone & fax: [011 44] 295 768185) is, Jack notes, "also very good at obtaining out-of-print books" and will bill and accept checks drawn on American banks; no buying of foreign currencies is required. Jack highly recommends these people and their services. The S.O.Sc, C.Q.E. and F.A.S.Q.C. titles after Jack's name require some explanation. In order, they are: Society of Ordained Scientists, Certified Quality Engineer, and Fellow, American Society for Quality Control. Jack is also a Fellow of the AAAS and his research background in tropical agriculture brought him to Western Electric (AT&T). Before he retired as Senior Staff Engineer in 1980, he served a dual role as ordained (in 1969) Episcopal priest and engineer. While active in science and theology, he has two small churches on the Delaware east shore and is on the Board of Directors of the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE.

 James W. Sire of Downers Grove, IL, was traveling again last fall, to Eastern College and McMaster U., then to eastern Europe and Denmark. He was hoping that the Bulgarian translation of his Universe Next Door would appear from Kliment Ohridski Univ. Press by the time he arrived in Sofia to lecture under Christian auspices to university students. The Orthodox Church in Bulgaria has been exerting political pressure on "foreign sects," which some see as including any non-Orthodox religious group. Meanwhile, Jim's latest book, Chris Chrisman Goes to College, a fictional distillate from his encounters with students and faculty as an evangelistic lecturer for IVCF, has been published ($9.99, IVP, 1993). Jim hopes real-life Christian students will be better prepared to cope with pluralism, relativism, and other isms after following the protagonist's encounters with challenges to faith in and out of class.

The ASA has several members in, of all places, the northwest corner of Papua New Guinea. Missionary Bob Conrad, working with Wycliffe Bible Translators on the Bukiyip translation team was traveling the U.S. this summer on furlough (and nearly visited the Editor in NW PA, who shares with Bob common church roots). Bob notes that PNG could, by some definitions, become the most Christian country, with the highest ratio of missionaries to population, favorable government attitude towards missions and the relative ease of access to the larger population groups. Why all the missions work in PNG? It's partly because PNG has 1/7 of the world's languages. Even in PNG, though, science and faith issues are relevant. Bob relates a story of native believers confused about the anti-Christ and about the significance of the falling stars they had been seeing.

Speaking of Papua New Guinea, Ruth Albu, now active in the Rocky Mountain, CO ASA local section, spent some time as a nurse there herself. Lately, she is working another "jungle" - in an inner-city health ministry in Denver, where she never ceases to be shocked by the degree of poverty (physical and otherwise) in such a "rich" city. But she likes her job with co-workers who share a common philosophy of care, from the motivation of Jesus Christ.

Mims Questions Suzuki

Forrest M. Mims III, a featured speaker of the 1992 ASA Meeting in Hawaii, made the news when rejected as Amateur Scientist columnist by Scientific American because of his views about evolution. Now he is making more news -literally. In the 25 Sep 93 issue of World magazine, a fast-growing Christian news publication, Mims critiqued geneticist David Suzuki's 8-hour series on genetics and molecular biology, "The Secret of Life," shown on PBS 26 - 29 Sep 93. In an article entitled "PBS explores DNA and the Mutations of Secular Science," Mims points out that in the second segment of the PBS series, "Accidents of Creation," Suzuki speculates on how mutations supposedly drive evolution (from chimp to human). However, in subsequent episodes, the consequence of mutations are shown to be fatal diseases. Finally, in view of the enormous ethical questions posed by being "on the brink of ultimate power, the power to change ourselves" Suzuki leaves the series with the explanation that religious beliefs can overrule antisocial genes, and that we are ultimately responsible for our own actions underlies moral and religious institutions. Mims raises the final question: How can an increasingly secular scientific establishment invoke spiritual values in its pursuit of genetic excellence? To subscribe to World magazine, which often covers science and ecology issues, call: (800) 951-6397. Forty issues per year are $27.95.

Is Light Tiring?

The ASA journal PSCF has recently published a communication ("A Statistical Test That Fails to Substantiate Decay in the Velocity of Light," Gene Pennello, Jun 93, vol. 45, no. 2) endeavoring to refute the thesis that the speed of light is decaying. Now the Editor has received new work on this controversial topic from Lambert T. Dolphin who, in a paper co-authored with Alan Montgomery in Galilean Electrodynamics (Sep/Oct 1993, vol. 4, no. 5), has turned up the statistical intensity another notch. Five pages of statistical tables (in small print) giving essential data from speed of light experiments dating back to 1675 are included in the paper and are also available on diskette in Microsoft Excel database format, with formulas, from Dolphin for $5. Contact Montgomery by phone in Ottawa at (613) 990-9900, or Lambert at: 1103 Pomeroy Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051; (408) 985-8327 or (408) 243-5937 fax. The ASAN Editor has one copy for the Macintosh for the first who asks.

ASAers in Action

George Murphy, from neighboring Ohio, gave a public lecture on cosmology and creation Wed, 10 Nov 93, at Thiel College in Greenville, PA. Entitled "Creation: Past, Present, and Future," George emphasized the importance of starting from what is known (in the present) in extrapolating into the origins and destiny of the universe. As both scientist and theologian, George spoke to a sizeable audience on both the scientific and theological aspects of creation, and graciously answered numerous questions afterward, including some completely off his topic.

Terry Morrison, director of IVCF's Faculty Ministries, is organizing a conference similar to one held last year for faculty in the humanities and social sciences. For this year's conference, IVCF is focusing on science and applied science faculty. The conference is on "Is There a Christian Way to Do Science?," and will be held 25-27 Mar 1994 at Mundelein, IL. Among the speakers will be Elving Anderson, who is currently working on gene mapping in epilepsy and breast cancer, speaking on "The Ethics of the Genome Project as a Model for Ethics in Science." The ubiquitous Phillip Johnson, questioning naturalistic assumptions in science, is participating Friday evening in the discussion of "How do we know how God creates?" along with Elving, Terry, and Keith Yandell, professor of philosophy in science and ethics from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison. Co-sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Christian Studies and IVCF, more information on the conference can be obtained from Terry at: IVCF, 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895; phone: (608) 274-9001.

Energetic Californian John Wiester made the Times Advocate newspaper of Escondido (18 Sep 93, Randy Dotinga), along with the ASA, in an article entitled, "Christian Biology Teachers Issue Evolution Booklet"-which is ASA's Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy, co-authored by Wiester, David Price and Walt Hearn. John was quoted in the article: "We care about science and we care about faith, but both are being abused in the science classroom in California." The article further attributes to John the comment that "some use evolution as a way to teach that life arose by chance, without purpose. ... We're very disturbed about the Darwinist agenda masquerading as science in the classroom."

The article succinctly states the issue at hand: "The perspective of the scientists is one that has been largely missing during the on-going debate in Vista [CA, near San Diego]. They believe evolution theory has serious flaws, but do not follow the lead of other creationists who argue the Earth is very young." The hope of the ASA, the article mentions, is that "the book will prevent ruckuses like that `now going on in Vista ...'" Also cited in the article were Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education in Berkeley, who opposes use of the book in classrooms "`because it teaches science from a sectarian religious perspective'," and Tom Conroy, president of the Vista Teachers Association, who said he had not previously heard of the book. His association has "steadfastly refused to change the way teachers tell students about evolution," the article stated. (See related articles, "Hasta La Vista" and "ASA in the Thick of It" in the Dec 93 issue.)

William E. Hamilton of Rochester, Michigan is an electrical engineer who has participated in Internet on the Newsgroup that can be found at the address "talk.origins." Former Editor (WOE no mo') Walt Hearn knew because another Internet enthusiast told him about an article from the March 1993 Perspectives posted there by Bill: the Communication from Jerry Bergman about Scientific American's treatment of Forrest Mims. Bill's posting was followed by another from Micheal Cranford, who was highly critical of Jerry, and of ASA, which he called "a non-scientific Christian religious organization" that had engaged in "obscurantism" by sending to public school teachers some publication (which he seemed to oppose without having seen). Bill Hamilton's e-mail address, by the way, is hamilton@predator.cs.gmr.com. (Small-world note: the Editor previously worked with e-mail skeptics of Christianity in Tektronix Laboratories, Beaverton, OR, including Cranford, a long-time, flamboyant critic of anything religious, and the articulate and more contemplative Jeff Mayhew, who heads a local skeptics society and who has aided in debunking New Age mystical phenomena on a local Portland "Town Hall" TV program.)

Affiliation of Christian Biologists

In its third year, the 78-member ACB is: initiating a mentor program to help graduate students and provide guidance with career goals; sharing teaching of the integration of science and faith and lab work; developing interpersonal relationships between Christian biologists who are isolated in industry and universities.  Don Munro, President.

..And Geologists

Two years older than the ACB, the 200-member Affiliation of Christian Geologists, was initiated by Davis Young of Calvin College. They meet at the annual Geological Society of America meeting and, besides arranging field trips for members, they also visit with local seminarians. In 1993 their meeting was held in Boston in late October. 1993 GSA program chair Fr. James Skehan, S.J. is also an ACG member.

Among ACG purposes are: to promote fellowship and scientific integrity among Christian geologists, educate the Christian lay public about geology and non-Christian scientists about the Christian faith, and to promote Christian stewardship in the geologic sphere. <F41559M>*<F255D> Kenneth Van Dellen, Treasurer

Long-Range Planning Committee

This committee develops ideas for future directions of the ASA for the ASA Executive Council to consider. Though relatively dormant this past year, three areas being addressed are: attracting younger people (the ASA is aging); increasing public university membership (which is not large); and considering options for relating to local churches. The Editor noted this last point as a recurring theme in various discussions during the Annual Meeting. Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy targeted high-school biology teachers. Is the Church to be addressed next by the ASA?  David Swift

A.P.'S Accurate Picture

After half a century of operating in relative obscurity, the American Scientific Affiliation is finally getting some good press. An ASA press release on our Annual Meeting caught the attention of Associated Press writer Elizabeth Dunham. Her story, dateline Seattle, began this way:

' In six days, the Bible says, God created the Earth and everything on it. In five days, a group of Christian scientists will try to figure out what to do with it all."

That eye-catching lead paragraph was followed by an accurate description of ASA, of the theme of our meeting at Seattle Pacific U., and of our willingness to debate important issues despite being conservative in our views, "with strict interpretations of the Bible, although not fundamentalist." Basing her story largely on quotations from Executive Director Bob Herrmann, Dunham got things right and even located our "2,500-member organization" in Ipswich, MA-where people can find us.

Dunham wrote that ASA gained national attention several years ago by distributing Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy, a manual urging teachers to "shun ideological absolutes" about human origins. The booklet (named in the story) "detailed wide evidence for the evolutionary theory, but said that calling the theory `fact' is unjustified." The story ended with several paragraphs about keynote speaker Calvin DeWitt's environmental activism.

Dunham's story went out on the AP wire, and John Wiester spotted it in the Santa Barbara News Press. There it appeared on August 8 under the headline, "Christian Scientists Ponder Nature."Walt Hearn

From Earthkeeping News

The Sep/Oct 1993 issue of Earthkeeping News, beginning its third year as the newsletter of the North American Conference on Christianity & Ecology (NACCE, 1522 Grand Ave, #4C, St. Paul, MN 55105), mentioned a number of ASAers by name. An account of the July conference on "Science, Technology, & the Christian Faith" at Concordia College's CHARIS Ecumenical Center (Moorhead, MN) offered suggestions from seminar leader George Murphy for introducing scientific concepts into worship. For more ideas and resources, write Rev. George L. Murphy, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Tallmadge, OH 44278.

An increasing number of resources are available today, dealing with science and faith issues. An extensive bibliography can be obtained from Dr. Barbara Pursey, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA 52001.

(Somehow in the Jun/Jul ASAN we omitted Barbara Pursey from a list of ASAers on the program, a particularly embarrassing goof because she was on the conference-planning committee.) Barb was pleased to see nearly 400 scientists, engineers, pastors, and laypersons facing important issues together at the Moorhead conference.

 The "Coming Up" section of the same issue of Earthkeeping News announced several Christian ecological conferences. The "Resources" section listed the 1992 Missionary Earthkeeping, edited by Ghillean Prance and Calvin DeWitt ($16.95, Mercer Univ. Press, Macon, GA 31207), containing a chapter by James Gustafson. Other resources listed included an eight-part discussion series for adult Christian education called "God and Science: Must We Choose?" ($10, Center for Faith & Science Exchange, Boston Theological Institute, 210 Herrick Rd, Newton Centre, MA 02159) and a "Basic Resource Packet of the Science & Technology Working Group" ($5, Div. of Education & Publication, United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, 700 Prospect Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114-1100). Walt Hearn

Personals

Dr. John E. Hoover has a new position as assistant professor of biology at Millersville U., is now at 51 Pilgrim Dr., Lancaster, PA 17603, and has recently published in Science 259 on "Multiple Output Channels in the Basal Ganglia."

Dr. Howard R. Meyer, Jr. (LtCol, USAF) is now Deputy Chief Scientist of the Air Force's Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, as of 16 Aug 1993. Moving from Tyndall AFB, FL, his present duties include directing basic research and focusing on laboratory quality issues. New address: 13732 Pruitt Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112; (505) 291-1002; e-mail: meyerh@plk.af.mil

Timothy Paul Erdel is taking a leave of absence as of Jan 1994 from the Jamaica Theological Seminary and Caribbean Graduate School of Theology to become archivist for Otis Bowen, Missionary Church and Bethel College archives, with appointments in the library, and religion and philosophy departments. New address: 56111 Frances Ave., Mishawaka, IN 46545-7507; (219) 258-9332.

Brian Greuel was appointed assistant professor of biology at the U. of Scranton, PA 18510-4625, beginning Fall 1993. Moving from Austin College in Texas, Brian is thrilled with the interest several undergrads have shown toward research and is anxious to resume his own on gene regulation during early mouse embryo genesis. Anxious to stop family "migratory behavior" (from Toronto before Texas), Brian's keen observation has detected that professional baseball or football teams nearby flourish wherever he and his wife, Jane, and two children have lived!

Local Sections, Anyone?

Roger D. Griffioen reports from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI that the ASA local Western Michigan section has been inactive for about a decade, in spite of a couple of efforts to revive it. Roger's report also reflects the state of the Oregon local section, though members from both locales participate at the national level. In this emerging age of telepresence, will "local" come to mean North America? Any more reports of activity (or otherwise) from local sections?

Meanwhile, as reported last issue, Robert T. Voss in Pittsburgh initiated the formation of a new local section, beginning with the same lecturer (and lectures!)-the Reverend Doctor Stanley L. Jaki, "Big Bang and Genesis 1:  Two Sides of One Coin?"-that was the occasion for the Nyack College Saturday evening (23 Oct 93) meeting of the metropolitan New York/New Jersey section. In discussion with Fr. Jaki after the Pittsburgh lectures, he expressed an interest in addressing the national ASA, taking a nonconcordist approach to science and the Bible, and usually having something interesting to say about Immanuel Kant, one of whose works he first translated into English. As a first-rate scholar and long productive in sci/rel work, other local sections would find him a stimulating and edifying local speaker.

ASA Stalwarts With the Lord

H. Harold Hartzler, for many years an active ASA member and professor of physics and astronomy at Mankato State University, Mankato, MN since 1958, died Thursday, 9 Dec 1993, at age 85. "H³," as he was sometimes known in ASA circles, graduated from Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA in 1930, and from Rutgers U., Newark, NJ, in 1934, where he received a doctorate in physics. With post-graduate work at Pennsylvania State U., U. of Michigan, and U. of Arizona, Harold was well-prepared in his long and full career in teaching ó first as a professor of mathematics and astronomy and dean of men at Elizabethtown (PA) College from 1935- 1937. Then, it was off to Goshen College, where Harold settled in from 1937 to 1958. Besides the ASA, Harold belonged to numerous learned societies involved in mathematics, astronomy, physics, and education, and to various honorary societies, including Sigma Xi. He was the first Executive Secretary of the ASA. His funeral announcement in the Goshen News noted his membership in the ASA and that "He was the only person who attended every one of the 31 national meetings of the American Scientific Affiliation." While unable to attend one of his later meetings in person, Harold "showed up" via the medium of videotape. The Editor, while in Oregon in the early '70s, remembers an OR Local Section Annual Meeting at which Harold, then traveling about the country, gave a lively luncheon talk about relations between the ASA and ICR. Harold was also a member of the Creation Research Society. One of Harold's long-term projects was a study of Amish and Mennonite genealogy and history. Duane Kauffmann

After a long period of failing health, Charles Hatfield died at age 73 on Wednesday, 17 Nov 1993. Shortly after being able to come home from the hospital on 22 Jun for two days to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversity with Muriel and family, his health rapidly declined. Chuck received his A.B. in math in 1940 from Georgetown College and Ph.D., also in math, from Cornell U. in 1944. His long teaching career included graduate teaching assistant at U. of Kentucky and Cornell, assistant professor at the U. of Minnesota from 1946-1960; professor and math dept. chairman at the U. of North Dakota, 1960-1964; and chairman and senior professor of mathematics at the U. of Missouri-Rolla until his retirement. Besides developing new courses at the U. of MO in abstract algebra and number theory, he was a most valued advisor and group lecturer. In addition to serving on the board of governors of the Mathematical Association of America (1975-1977), he was a member of the American Mathematical Society and Sigma Xi. He taught Morning Bible Class at First Presbyterian Church and Rolla Bible Church. Chuck was also a member of the board of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the Institute for Advancement of Christian Studies.  Muriel Hatfield, Elving Anderson

O. Norman Carlson, professor of metallurgy at Iowa State University, Ames, died at 72 years on Friday 10 Sep 1993. Former Newsletter editor Walter Hearn, who was also a professor at ISU, thinks he might have recruited Norm into the ASA. Carlson was internationally known for his work on high-purity metals (especially vanadium), phase equilibria and mass transport in solids, having published more than 120 papers, two books and chapters of others ó another full and productive scientific career. A native of rural Mitchell, South Dakota (home of the Corn Palace), he got his bachelor's degree at nearby Yankton College in 1943 and his doctorate in chemistry at ISU in 1950. What brought Norm to ISU was the Manhattan Project (1943-1945), which Norm reflected on in an Ames Laboratory newsletter interview in 1984: "The lab was an exciting place to be in the early years, particularly for a young scientist. The morale was high; it was an important and exciting mission. We were on the forefront of a new and rapidly developing field. Nuclear engineering was a `fair-haired boy' and it was prestigious to work in the field." During a forum on Hiroshima a year later, Norm said he "believed the time will come when we will see that nuclear energy can be a blessing to mankind." No sooner had he graduated at ISU than Norm joined the chemistry faculty, only to be appointed chairman of the newly formed Department of Metallurgy. Later in 1961, he was made chief of the metallurgy division of Ames Laboratory, where he continued his work after retirement in 1987. A colleague, Jack Smith, said some kind words about Norm: "He was just a very fine individual, very conscientious about his work. He stayed at it. ... He was the kind of guy that was easy to get along with. He was well-liked." Besides membership in societies in his field, Norm was yet another Sigma Xi member and was involved in community service. A long-time member of the Bethesda Lutheran Church, he served on the Foundation Board of University Lutheran and was also on the Board of Regents of Waldorf College.  Virginia Carlson, Walt Hearn

POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE: Chemistry: Faculty position for 1-yr leave replacement with second yr possible. Teaching assignments include intro. chem. and organic or analytic chem. Candidates must have strong evangelical Christian faith commitment. Apply to: Dr. Robert Zwier, VP for Academic Affairs, Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa 51041; EOE. Biology: 3-yr appointment for broadly trained Ph.D. in animal physiology/zoology who can teach intro. biology, animal & human physiology; research involving undergrads; student advising & committee assignments; prefer record of successful college teaching and strong commitment to the educational mission and evangelical Christian orientation of Bethel C. Contact: Dr. H. David Brandt, Provost, Bethel College, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112; (612) 638-6400. Biology: Full-time assistant or assoc. prof. to teach undergrads: 24 semester-credits + student advising. Competitive salaries/benefits, based on rank and experience. Must have Ph.D. in biology, 2 years post-doc experience and substantial expertise in one of following: allied health, biochemistry, biology, genetics, or microbiology. Apply with  cv, publications, 3 refs and brief outline of educational philosophy and scientific and teaching skills to: Dr. Paul Madtes Jr., Chairman, Biology Dept., Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050; (614) 397-6862, ext. 3202.  Joseph Lechner) Biology: Fall 1994 tenure-track assistant/associate professor; Ph.D. required; teaching and research experience preferred, with a commitment to Christian liberal arts education and undergrad research. Teach intro. biology and 3 upper-division courses in cell & molecular biology. Letter, cv, res/teach interests to Dr. George Ayoub, Dept. Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA 93108; (805) 565-7019; fax: (805) 565-7035. Review of applications begins 15 Nov 93. Chemistry: tenure-track assistant professor; seeking a Ph.D. chemist to teach in a liberal arts college which cherishes academic excellence in the context of a firm Christian commitment. Teach lectures/labs in physical/inorganic; share duties in general and analytical sequences. A personal commitment to Christ and a desire to integrate faith and learning is expected. Submit cover letter, CV, names and addresses of 3 references to: Chemistry Search Committee, Office of Human Resources, Whitworth College, Spokane, WA 99251. Biology: One regular, tenure track position and one one-year term position in either of the following areas: plant systematics/ecology or cell/molecular biology/physiology/human biology at Calvin C. Must affirm the goals and philosophy of education of the college. For more information, contact Dr. Uko Zylstra, Chair, Biology Department, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4388, 616/957-65499; fax: 616/957-6501; email: zylu@legacy.calvin.edu. Biology/Physiology: Instructor for general and upper level Biology courses. Must be able to teach anatomy and physiology for Nursing/Allied Health program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Candidates must be willing to sign an evangelical statement of faith in the Wesleyan tradition. Send letter of inquiry and dossier to Dr. Paul D. Collord, Vice President for Academic Affairs, 4201 South Washington St., Marion IN 46953.

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