Earth Summit, hosted by the Ontario Conference at the Ottawa Convention Center, served as a meaningful invitation for churches and communities to gather, deepen their understanding of the natural world, celebrate the beauty of creation, and embrace the shared responsibility to care for it. This year’s event fostered strong engagement and meaningful interaction throughout.
A central highlight was the booth hosted by the Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) and Loma Linda University (LLU), titled “Stewardship of Creation Through Science.” The booth remained active and well-attended, drawing in a steady stream of visitors, including many children who eagerly explored hands-on items such as shark teeth and other GRI resources.
Presenters Dr. Lance Pompe and Mogi Pompe , representing GRI and LLU, delivered a talk titled “Earth: Our Special Planet.” Their presentation explored the concept of planetary habitability, highlighting key features that make Earth uniquely suited for life , such as its atmosphere, abundant water, light, and dynamic plate tectonics. These scientific insights were thoughtfully interwoven with biblical passages that affirm God’s intentional creation of Earth.
The presentation transitioned into an overview of ongoing research projects at GRI and LLU. Attendees were introduced to studies ranging from geological work in the Peruvian Andes to significant paleontological findings, including dinosaur track research in Bolivia led by Dr. Raúl Esperante and Dr. Roger Clawson. Additional highlights included marine biology research by Loma Linda University students Alexandra Encalada Malca and Javier Cochachi Bustamante on sea turtles in the Caribbean. Audience interaction remained a key component, fostering dialogue and curiosity across all age groups.
Further enriching the program, Dr. Luciano G. Olivares represented GRI with a presentation titled “God the Mathematician and Universal Designer,” while Jeffery Brown from the General Conference and the Faith and Science Council delivered remarks during the opening ceremony.
From the opening ceremony to the closing moments, Earth Summit created a space where faith and science were not only presented side by side but experienced together. The consistent engagement at the GRI/LLU booth reflected a growing interest in understanding creation through both scientific exploration and a biblical worldview, an encouraging sign for future gatherings.
