Among the mountains of Bolivia, scientists and researchers from around the world gathered for an event that unites science and faith in a unique way. From September 4-7, 2024, the city of Cochabamba and Torotoro National Park hosted the 5th South American Meeting of Faith and Science.

The meeting was organized by the South American Division (SAD) of Seventh-day Adventists and the Adventist University of Bolivia (UAB) and attracted more than 70 experts from eight countries. Attendees could access lectures, workshops, and an expedition to study the largest record of dinosaur footprints on the planet. More than just a scientific event, it was an opportunity to reflect on the harmony between creationist faith and scientific investigation.

Francislê Neri de Souza, director of the Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) for eight South American countries, highlighted that the event strengthens the dialogue between faith and science within a creationist perspective. “Meetings like this are essential to strengthen the convictions of participants and provide scientific tools to defend the biblical view of origins,” said Souza.

The GRI in South America promotes geological expeditions to important locations such as the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador; Chapada do Araripe in Brazil; and Ocucaje in Peru, reinforcing the integration between science and faith in the study of origins.

Practical results

The visit to Torotoro National Park was the main activity during the meeting. More than 20,000 dinosaur footprints from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods have been documented at the site. Led by Raúl Esperante from GRI’s global headquarters, the researchers analyzed footprints that suggest dinosaurs interacted with flooded environments. Esperante’s research since 2019 has already generated several scientific publications and has sparked the interest of the Bolivian government in promoting tourism in the region.

The meeting also marked the launch of the book Contributions to the Teaching of Creationism. Aimed at Adventist educators, the book features 20 chapters written by 28 authors and offers pedagogical strategies for integrating creationist teaching with scientific knowledge.

Dr. Ronald Nalin, global director of the GRI, highlighted the importance of expanding the dialogue between science and faith in Adventist institutions. For Antônio Marcos Alves, director of the Education department of the South American Division, creationism is the “cornerstone” of the denomination and should be an essential part of Adventist education.

Focus on new generations

Adolfo Suárez, rector of the Latin American Adventist Theological Seminary (SALT) and director of the Spirit of Prophecy department of the Adventist Church for eight countries in South America, highlighted that events like this allow the alignment of research with Adventist identity. He advocated the production of more multimedia content, such as documentaries, to make creationism more accessible to new generations.

“Participating in the 5th Faith and Science Meeting was an unparalleled experience. Without a doubt, the highlight of the event, in addition to the interesting lectures, was the field activity in Torotoro National Park. Learning in practice how dinosaur footprint investigations are carried out was very enriching, edifying, and further reinforced important principles of the creationist worldview,” says Maura Brandão, PhD in Science, host of Observatório das Origens on YouTube and columnist for Portal Adventista .

The next South American Meeting of Faith and Science will be held in Chile in 2026, focusing on astronomy and its implications for the study of origins.

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese website.