Name: Life Beyond Earth: What Would It Mean for Christians? - Resource - BioLogos
Uploaded: 2019-04-18T16:12:09.000Z
Description: Presentations from the 2019 BioLogos Conference, featuring Deb Haarsma, Jennifer Wiseman, and Stephen Freeland.

deb-haarsma

deborah-haarsma

Dr. Deborah Haarsma served as President of BioLogos from 2013 to 2024.   Under Haarsma’s leadership, BioLogos grew in both numbers and influence, from private events and a small website to extensive programs and widespread impact (see <a href="https://biologos.org/about-us#our-history">Our History</a>). During her tenure, BioLogos built an extensive network of experts, writers, and speakers, and developed national conferences, a high-school curriculum, and a podcast.  BioLogos became the leading resource on the viewpoint of evolutionary creation and went on to help Christians wrestle with many complex science topics, always working at the intersection of Christ-centered faith and rigorous science and in a spirit of gracious dialogue. 

Haarsma is a frequent speaker on modern science and Christian faith at churches, universities, and conferences. In addition to <a href="https://biologos.org/resources?refinementList[authors.post_title]=Deborah%20Haarsma">extensive writing and speaking for BioLogos</a>, she has appeared on several podcasts, including Undeceptions (on <a href="https://undeceptions.com/podcast/outer-space/">Outer Space</a> and on <a href="https://undeceptions.com/podcast/the-multiverse/">The Multiverse</a>) and the <a href="https://thejesusstorybookbiblepodcast.libsyn.com/105-exploring-gods-love-through-the-universe-dr-deborah-haarsma">Jesus Storybook Bible podcast</a>. Her writing has been featured at <a href="https://bigthink.com/the-well/astrophysics-christian/">Big Think</a> and <a href="https://sojo.net/magazine/december-2021/created-from-stardust">Sojourners</a>, as well as in several books, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Creation-Evolution-Intelligent-Design-Counterpoints-ebook/dp/B06XFN3TW6/ref=sr_1_5">Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Design</a>, the collection <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Calvinism-Secular-Age-Twenty-First-Century-Lectures-ebook/dp/B098G83PB7/ref=sr_1_1">Calvinism for a Secular Age</a>, and the collection <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christ-Created-Order-Perspectives-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B072TLQ1NX/ref=pd_sim_351_3/145-1145379-1292039">Christ and the Created Order</a>.   She wrote the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Origins-Christian-Perspectives-Evolution-Intelligent/dp/159255573X">Origins</a> with her husband and fellow physicist, Loren Haarsma, presenting the agreements and disagreements among Christians regarding the history of life and the universe.  

Previously, Haarsma served as professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Calvin University. In her research, she used telescopes around the world and in orbit to pursue extragalactic astronomy and observational cosmology, with publications on young galaxies, large galaxies, galaxy clusters, the curvature of space, and the expansion of the universe.  Haarsma completed her doctoral work in astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4o8QMlzafOadjpG8LXuj9P">profile</a> by MIT’s Octet Collaborative) and her undergraduate work in physics and music at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota (<a href="https://www.bethel.edu/news/articles/2022/october/deborah-haarsma">profile</a> for 2022 Alumna of the Year award). She and Loren enjoy science fiction and classical music, and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Former President

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BioLogos Voices

Astrophysics

Evolution

Physical Sciences

Deborah Haarsma

stephen_freeland-500x500

Stephen Freeland

stephen-freeland

Stephen Freeland is an Astrobiologist and the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at UMBC in Baltimore. Building from a bachelors degree in zoology (Oxford), a Masters’ degree in computer science (University of York), and a Ph.D. in genetics (Cambridge University), his personal research came to focus upon the earliest evolution of life on our planet. After a postdoctoral fellowship to Princeton, Steve worked for eight years as a biology professor at UMBC before leaving to serve for four years as the project manager for the University of Hawaii node of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (where he worked to facilitate scientists from diverse disciplines working together to derive insights into the origin, distribution and evolution of life in the universe.) In 2013, he returned to UMBC in order to run one of the oldest interdisciplinary studies programs in the country (where he works to support students in creating and executing of unique undergraduate degree programs that combine two or more traditional academic disciplines.) Raised Methodist, Steve explored many different denominations before coming to land at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal church in Baltimore (Saint Bee’s). He is the proud husband and father in a blended family that comprises and three daughters who bring such joy and energy that only his amazing wife can rescue him to go for a quiet walk with the dog.

Astrobiology

Biology

Genetics

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Jennifer Wiseman

jennifer-wiseman

Jennifer J. Wiseman is an astrophysicist, author, and speaker. She studies the formation of stars and planets in our galaxy using radio, infrared, and optical telescopes. Dr. Wiseman studied physics for her bachelor’s degree at MIT, discovering comet Wiseman-Skiff in 1987. After earning her Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1995, she continued her research as a Jansky Fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and as a Hubble Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Wiseman also has an interest in national science policy and has served as an American Physical Society Congressional Science Fellow on Capitol Hill. She is currently a senior astrophysicist with NASA, and she also directs the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Wiseman enjoys giving talks on the excitement of science and astronomy to schools, youth and church groups, and civic organizations. She is a former Councilor of the American Astronomical Society and a former President of the American Scientific Affiliation.

Board of Directors

Life Beyond Earth: What Would It Mean for Christians?

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Presentations from the 2019 BioLogos Conference, featuring Deb Haarsma, Jennifer Wiseman, and Stephen Freeland.

Life Beyond Earth: What Would It Mean for Christians?

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