We interviewed Noemí Durán, a scientist from the Inter-European Division branch of the Geoscience Research Institute, based in Sagunto, Spain. Her words reveal how scientific study helps us understand God's love, care, and creativity for our planet.
That summer afternoon, Noemí wore comfortable trousers and a polo shirt in camouflage colors, paired with brown field boots and a hat that looked like it was made for an adventure film. She showed fossils to groups of teenagers around her, explaining what they were, where they were found and what they taught us about the history of Earth. During the Camporee, she offered knowledge and excitement as the youngsters carefully dug through the sand in search of sharp little shark teeth, found in Morocco, like apprentice archaeologists.The teeth were real and the excitement was notorious, but the most important thing was that an interest in Creation and Science was sparked in the minds of these Pathfinders.
Throughout her interview, Noemí talks about the origins of her interest in biology, her passion for studying animals and nature, the importance of education at home and at school, and how there is a lack of young Christians interested in dedicating themselves to science.
Noemí has a Ph.D. in biology, specialized in social-environmental education and has a master’s in zoology. Her main study was dedicated to turtle conservation projects in the Gulf of Fonseca, on the Pacific coast of Central America. Today, she is the head of the European branch of the Geoscience Research Institute, an organization supported by the Adventist Church for the study of Earth and nature sciences.
The perspective from which we observe nature makes a fundamental difference to the idea we have of it. And observing nature from a Creation perspective helps us to deepen our knowledge and understanding of a God of wonders. This interview is a contribution to that revelation.
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