News Releases 2009
LETU to feature NASA Scientist to speak about Creation
Fri, Jan 9 2009
LeTourneau University will host NASA-JPL (Jet Propulsion
Laboratory) scientist/engineer
Dr. Bijan Nemati in a Science Seminar event called “Developing
Cosmic Self Esteem: Approaching Our Place in the Universe.” Nemati will speak from 7 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 22, in Room 120 of the Education Building at LeTourneau University, 2100 Mobberly
Ave. This event is free and open to the public.
Nemati received his doctorate in experimental elementary particle
physics from the University of Washington. His research spans the fields of high energy physics,
stellar interferometry and high-precision metrology. He is currently the senior engineer at the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory working on NASA’s Space Interferometry Mission. His job is to build an
interferometer that is sensitive enough to point to other stars, not only to see if there are other
plants beyond our solar system, but to see if there are traces of life.
Nemati will talk about the factors of creation and will discuss the
questions: Is Earth rare or common? Is there life beyond what we know?
This event is the first of the Spring 2009 Science Seminar
schedule. Other events are as follows:
Feb. 12—“Water Quality Here and Abroad: How God Uses a Biologist
for His Kingdom” by David Pendergrass, Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at
Tarleton State University.
Feb. 26—“The Gospel Reconciliation and the Neurological Sciences:
Science and Ephesians on What it Means to be a Human Being” by Jeph Holloway, professor of theology
and ethics at East Texas Baptist University.
March 12—“What Is So Amazing About Advanced Engineering Materials?”
by Yoni Adonyi, professor of engineering at LETU.
March 26—“Reflecting on 40 Years of Teaching Chemistry at LETU” by
Richard Johnson, LETU professor of chemistry.
April 2—“Statistics of Disease: What are Your Chances?” by Jeannie
Thompson, Oklahoma State Health Department.
April 16—“Thyroid Function and Metabolic Rate in Rats” by LETU
biology instructor Karen Rispin and students from LETU.
April 23—“Probability and Providence: Free Will and Predestination
in the Physical World” by Gary DeBoer, LETU chemistry professor.
All events are on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in Room C101 of the Paul E.
Glaske Engineering and Science Building.
