“Universitas Investigationis: Discovery Research

in a Christian University”

Paul Brown, Chad Friesen, Ka Yin Leung, Julia Mills, Anthony Siame, Arnold Sikkema, Eve Stringham

Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences

Presentation at TWU Faculty Retreat21-22 August 2012

goo.gl/Kfr54

Some motivations for Christians to be involved in discovery research

Science is:• is a human cultural activity, in response to the “cultural

mandate” (Genesis 1:28)• is possible due to God’s covenant faithfulness (Genesis

8)• is founded largely upon Christian convictions• is possible to use for good and for ill (e.g. ethics)• is a complex web of theory and experiment• deepens our understanding of the creation• deepens our knowledge of the Creator

Two Kinds of Scientists

“There are two kinds of scientists: (1) those who preserve the received tradition, and (2) those who discover new knowledge. Those in the first group are the worker bees who rely on empiricism and rationalism to repeat the received tradition and use it. The second group relies on imagination to see what has never been seen, to hear what has never been heard, to understand what has never been understood.”

IVP Academic, 2012p. 281

Imagination & Science

• Ideate• Daydream• Invent• Wonder• Hallucinate• Transcend

IVP Academic, 2012pp. 276f.

Science & “creation, fall, redemption”

• Creation is good, is broken, and groans/waits.• “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind

receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-5, NASB)– See

www.twu.ca/academics/faculty/blogs/arnold-sikkema/science-and-salvation.html for my narrative associated with this

• science can equip our contributions toward shalom– restoration of relationships of with God, others, environment,

self (Wolterstorff)

Science & imago Dei

• N.T. Wright, an “angled mirror”• prophet, priest, king (under & after Christ)• prophet– “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all

creation.” [Mark 16:15]• king:– “rule over [creatures]” [Genesis 1:27]– “cultivate and keep [the garden of Eden]” [Gen. 2:15]

• priest– articulate the praises [Psalm 148…]

Ps. 148 and the scientist as priest

3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.

cont’d…

Ps. 148 and the scientist as priest7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, 8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, 9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, 10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds…13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Photo credit: AP | South Africa's Oscar Pistorius takes the baton from teammate L J van Zyl during the men's 4x400-meter during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Being Premier

Characteristics of a Premier University

• Learning centres comprised of both teaching & research with relatively large graduate student population

• Large endowments

University Ratio UG to PG Endowment Year Est.Princeton 1.6 $17.1 billion 1746Stanford 0.8 $16.5 billion 1891Oxford 1.3 $5.2 billion 1069 Notre Dame 2.5 $6.8 billion 1842Wheaton 4.5 $323 million 1860TWU 4.5 $ 7.7 million 1962

Characteristics of a Premier University

• Nobel prize winners on faculty (TWU has none)• 1/3 of the student population are international

(TWU 32 %)• Full tuition support for the most outstanding

students (TWU max. is $7000/yr)• Intense interdisciplinary approach to research (e.g.

Research Institutes, National Research Centres) (TWU has RIs but they do not receive internal funding)

• Has a university press (TWU does not)

Characteristics of a Premier University

• University’s highest source of income is from research success (grants and contracts) (TWU still tuition driven)

• Exploitation of academic research and invention (e.g. companies, royalties, license agreements) (TWU does not arrange these)

• Graduates are targeted by top employers (TWU???)• Day-to-day decision making such as finance and

planning is done by the academic divisions (TWU-Deans, Chairs manage faculty envelope)

Characteristics of a Premier University

• Competitive admission (e.g Ivy League schools typically around 10-15%) (TWU???)

• Extensive outreach activities and summer course offerings. Significant voluntary and outreach work with staff and students. Significant student summer work opportunities (TWU has significant travel studies, missions, Science in the Valley)

• Low teaching load, 2 courses per yr. typical (TWU 7) • Very competitive salaries (TWU among lowest in Canada)• Most graduate programs are research based (TWU has

Masters programs that are mostly professional degrees)

Are we moving in the right direction?

The-Electoral-Commission-London-Mayoral-Elections-Bungy-Pull-Electoral-Commission/57765

Practical steps and ideas…

• Have a research office with a Vice Provost of Research – Research Office Located in admin building - visibility– Director of Research

• Research chairs named and funded– particular area of research– donors – naming– Visibility– support for a person or project

• New Institutes in Science– e.g., Sustainable Products Institute (Chem/Biol)

Practical steps and ideas…

• Adjunct positions with other universities– To attract graduate students

• Graduate programs (collaborations with other institutions?)– Attract graduate students

• Have more invited talks here – – Formal seminar series supported by OR?

• Professors from TWU give talks – – Laurentian centre– Speaking circuits

Practical steps and ideas…

• Reduce teaching loads or finding ways to help faculty support themselves– Caps on class sizes (10 points = How many

students?– Research chairs– Course buyout option open at all times– Labs should count as a full courses– Award course relief to faculty with grants

• Investigating procedures for hiring Postdocs– Teaching/research postdoc combinations (1

course)– P/T pay rate to 5-6,000

Practical steps and ideas…

• More flexibility in the points system– “Banking” overload points to be used in

Pro-D account– Banked point can be used for course buy-

outs, sabbatical– Points given for supervision of graduate

students, postdocs, technicians etc.

• More flexibility in PD fund usage– Fund research expenses, travel, pay for

outside speakers

“Universitas Investigationis: Discovery Research

in a Christian University”

Paul Brown, Chad Friesen, Ka Yin Leung, Julia Mills, Anthony Siame, Arnold Sikkema, Eve Stringham

Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences

Presentation at TWU Faculty Retreat21-22 August 2012

goo.gl/Kfr54