At the 62nd General Conference Session, the Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) exhibit booth sparked conversations about the convergence of faith and science, with a particular focus on engaging young people. 

“Our school curriculums should include faith and science issues,” said Oluwole Oyedeji, geologist and director of the West-Central Africa Division’s GRI branch office.

According to its mission statement, the Geoscience Research Institute exists to explore the natural world and to share an understanding of nature that aligns with the biblical teaching on creation, as outlined in the church’s fundamental beliefs.

The GRI is represented by the Faith and Science Council, which works to assist the church and its institutions in studying and communicating biblical teachings regarding origins and their relationship to the physical world.

“We bring our Bible scholars and our scientific scholars together,” said Emeraude Victorin, director of marketing for the Faith and Science Council.

In an effort to expose leaders and members of the world church to the compatibility of faith and science, four lunchtime talks were held during the 2025 General Conference Session.

Theories on the Origins of Life

Timothy Standish, research scientist at the GRI in Loma Linda, California, shared the first presentation on Monday, July 7, titled “Panspermia: It Came from Outer Space.”

Timothy Standish, research scientist at the Geoscience Research Institute, shares the first science and faith talk at the 2025 General Conference Session. 

Panspermia suggests that life on earth began when microorganisms or chemical compounds from space landed in an environment suitable for life. Standish argues the theory fails due to the unique factors making earth habitable—among others.

“Nowhere outside earth has been found to have earth’s unique life-friendly conditions,” Standish said. “We’ve found a lot of planets, but not one where life can actually survive.”

To emphasize his point, Standish invoked imagery from the 1950s horror film From Outer Space, comparing the public's reaction to an extraterrestrial threat to how a materialist — someone who believes life is strictly matter-based — should respond to the theory of panspermia.

“If you are a materialist, you should be screaming when you hear panspermia being used as a way to prove the origins of life,” Standish said.

Connecting Science with God

Ben Clausen, a scientist at the GRI, told audiences at the Journey Stage inside the exhibit hall that he can trace his curiosity about science and the Bible to his early years — recalling writing a paper on creation and evolution in the ninth grade.

Despite earning a PhD in nuclear physics, conducting research at MIT, and working on particle accelerators, among other notable academic accomplishments, Clausen remained deeply committed to his faith, serving faithfully as an elder in his small local church.

“As I study science, math and physics, I see that it all points to a source of power far beyond our human limitations,” Clausen said.

Clausen even went so far as to give God the glory in his dissertation acknowledgments while at the University of Colorado for nuclear physics.

“And finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Creator for making our natural world such a fascinating topic for study,” the paper reads.

Paving the Way for Future God-Fearing Scientists

At the age of 18, Maya Greg is eager to begin a career in the STEM fields as a Christian (STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math.)

“I believe that through science we can show people God,” Greg said.

Though she will not be attending post-secondary school for a few years yet, she intends to study either particle or biochemical engineering, with plans to go into research. She summarizes her intended field as a blend of chemistry and the study of earth’s tiniest life forms.

“When I get to see these tiny microscopic particles, it really highlights to me intelligent design,” Greg said. “The precision and symmetry found in life forms too small for the human eye to see must indicate a Creator.”

She emphasized her desire for the church to put more resources into their academic institutions to encourage STEM-related careers, allowing for more studies into biblical events.

“I would love to see the church talk about biblical events, such as the flood, to study how God uses the forces of nature — His creation — to perform miracles.”

Scientific Phenomenon in the Bible

The biblical account of the flood is also of interest to Clausen, who has been studying plate tectonics and radiometric dating and their relation to the flood story found in Genesis chapters 6 through 9.

“The founding fathers of science were interested in studying God’s creation to learn more about God as the Creator, and I am inspired to do the same,” Clausen said.

Standish emphasized that biblical Christianity encourages believers to observe the world around them, making science and faith bond together.

“Some of the greatest heroes of the Bible were scientists,” Standish said. “Adam was a taxonomist, meaning he named the animals. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, studied creation and its relation to the Creator.”

In an effort to bridge faith and science by highlighting biblical events, the Faith and Science Council introduced the annual Creation Sabbath 16 years ago.

In 2009, the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of Origin of Species, the council wanted to use the opportunity to affirm God as Creator, leading to observance of the first Creation Sabbath on October 24, 2009.

“While the world is celebrating Darwin, we said let’s give our church another reason to celebrate,” said Victorin in one of the lunchtime presentations during the GC Session.

Creation Sabbath is celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday (Sabbath) of October as an encouragement to celebrate God’s creation.

In her presentation, Victorin shared the powerful story of Loma Linda University student Jane. Last year, after learning about Creation Sabbath, she reached out to her division and laid down a plan to plant one million trees across the region. Within four months of work, 705 Adventist schools and churches were registered to help in the East-Central Africa Division.

“If Jane, a student, can encourage her community to do this, imagine what you can do,” said Victorin.

Chenyse Semper is the Children’s Ministries and Pathfinder/Adventurer director at the Ladywood Adventist church in England. She attended Victorin’s presentation to find resources for Creation Sabbath celebration in her church.

“I have done Creation Sabbath over the years with Adventurers and Pathfinders, but I really want to get the rest of the church involved,” Semper said.

Faith and Science: The Ultimate Bond

Dorice Bibrac is a clinical researcher with an undergraduate and master’s degree in biology. For her, studying life helped to grow her relationship with God as the Creator.

“The intricate design of each part we studied really pointed me to God,” Bibrac said. “We know about creation from the Bible, but I believe we are also called to study it.”

Standish affirmed that science is not possible without faith, and that Christianity encourages believers to observe the world around them to draw reasonable and logical conclusions.

“There are always going to be new, thrilling wonders to discover in this creation that was made by an infinite God,” Standish said.

For more coverage of the 2025 General Conference Session, including live updates, interviews, and delegate stories, visit adventist.news and follow ANN on social media.