This past weekend, Goshen College hosted the Conference on Religion and Science, an event which has been held almost every year since its creation in 2001. The conference took place over three days, from Friday to Sunday, with a session each day, along with meals shared together at Westlawn and at an Amish restaurant. There were also discussions, including a student-only session and a worship service which were not public. The keynote speaker for the entire weekend was Sarah Fredericks, associate professor of environmental ethics at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Over the course of the three days, Fredericks...

By Josiah Miller • March 13, 2025 • News

For over 10 years, Dan Smith, professor of chemistry and department chair, has been running research that looks at the genetics of pigeons, which he does with the help of a few students. Smith said, “I can only have about two or three people at a time because I actually work pretty closely with them.”  Right now those students are Mikey Anderson, a senior environmental science major; Julia Miller, a sophomore biochemistry major; and Levi Moser, a first-year environmental science major who helps with taking pictures.  “We’re interested in trying to figure out what mutations in genes cause different colors...

By Annabelle Bartz • February 6, 2025 • Features

“I volunteered one day and put my arm in and I got a severe allergic reaction that lasted like three days on my whole arm. Never again. Lesson learned.” That’s new Goshen College biology professor Raquel Montañez-González explaining a challenge of mosquito research she became well-acquainted with while obtaining her doctorate: their need for blood — on that day, her blood — in order to reproduce. Montañez-González was hired last year to fill an open spot in the biology department after Jody Saylor moved to an administrative role on campus. She earned her doctorate in genetics at the University of...

By Amelia Witmer-Rich • February 16, 2023 • Features

Andy Ammons starts his class by taking students to the prairie behind the Newcomer Building at Goshen College. As they walk through the tall grass, students see bees flying around. This unorthodox classroom may make some students uncomfortable, but both bees and Ammons are in their natural habitat. Ammons gets stung a lot — sometimes even on purpose. During his course, Pollinators in Peril, Ammons makes a point of stinging himself. He catches a bee and puts it directly on his arm, encouraging the bee to release the stinger. He says he does so to show the class what happens...

By Amelia Lee • February 2, 2023 • Features

While many professors may choose to relax in their free time, Ryan Sensenig, professor of biological and environmental science, runs a mini agricultural operation selling grass-fed beef. Sensenig and his wife have three to four cows on their farm at all times. These cows are eventually butchered, and the meat is sold to friends and other Goshen faculty members.  Being grass-fed, specifically prairie-fed, it is much healthier than other kinds of beef and usually sells out quickly.  However, Sensenig is clear that the animals’ primary purpose is ecological research. “The animals are there for the grass, not the other way...

By Amelia Witmer-Rich • September 30, 2022 • Features

Dr. Michael Spezio, a psychologist and neuroscientist from Scripps College in Claremont, California and ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, offered the keynote address at Goshen College’s 20th annual conference on Religion and Science on Friday.  Spezio’s lecture was called, “Imagining the True Self,” which introduced the series for the weekend, “In Whose Image? Perspectives from Interactions of Brain Science and Abrahamic Mindfulness.” The series explored how religion can help science find the truth by offering a different perspective on what it means to be human.  To make his point, Spezio showed two images of famous French sculptures that...

By Miguel Rodriguez • March 13, 2020 • News Elijah Lora • March 13, 2020 • News

Over 300 students from middle and high schools in northern Indiana participated Saturday in the annual Indiana Science Olympiad regional tournament hosted by Goshen College.  Teams of 15 students competed in 23 events that tested their skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The challenges inspired feats of creativity to break codes using matrices, model 3D protein structures with pipe cleaners, design musical instruments and more.  In the Recreation-Fitness Center, students tested gravity-propelled vehicles designed to speed across the gym floor and stop dead on a blue masking tape target, pressured-air bottle rockets that release parachute-held ping-pong balls and balsa...

By Gabe Miller • February 16, 2020 • News

A fossil-filled rock more than 66 million years old was donated to Goshen College last week. The rock, which weighs hundreds of pounds, and is estimated by the donor to be worth $2000 to $3000, is a gift from a retired community member. Professors say it will be an educational and aesthetic asset to the college.  The rock is large, flat, and covered with the fossilized shells of Belemnites (long and beak-like) and Ammonites (spiral-shaped). The two species of squid-like marine molluscs lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, between 66 and 201 million years ago.  “It’s like a piece...

By Gabe Miller • February 7, 2020 • News

This past weekend, Goshen College hosted the 19th annual conference on religion and science. The conference included a series of lectures, two of which were open to the public, as well as multiple discussion sessions that were reserved for registered participants. The keynote speaker was Katharine Hayhoe, an atmospheric climate scientist and a professor and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. Hayhoe’s research focuses on developing and applying high-resolution climate projections in order to better understand what climate change means for people and their natural environment. Hayhoe gave an in-depth look at the science behind climate...

By Jordan Haarer • April 5, 2019 • News

On Feb. 9, over 300 middle and high school students from across northern Indiana flocked to Goshen College for the regional Science Olympiad tournament. Throughout the day, the students tested their STEM skills in the first stage of the national science competition.   Ten middle school and 12 high school teams competed in events ranging from game design to protein modeling. The top four middle school teams and top three high school teams advanced to the state tournament in Bloomington.   Goshen College has hosted the northeast Indiana tournament for almost thirty years.   Decades ago, the Indiana Science Olympiad...

By Gabe Miller • February 14, 2019 • News

Yazan Meqbil spent more than 500 hours in a laboratory this summer. While that might sound unappealing to most, Meqbil says it was one of the most informative experiences of his life thus far. Meqbil, a senior Goshen College student majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry, worked as a research fellow at Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy — a position that is typically only available to Purdue students. From 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., five days a week, for 10 weeks, Meqbil hunkered down in a lab and studied the N-terminal methylation of 24 s.cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) substrates through investigating...

By Abby King • October 10, 2018 • Features

This last weekend marked the 18th Religion and Science Conference held at Goshen College since 2001. Each year, up to 50 pastors, scientists, mathematicians, theologians, and students gather to listen to three lectures by a main speaker, and then interact with pervasive subject matter in discussion groups. It is an opportunity to engage with people of different worldviews and beliefs and expand one’s own understanding beyond their sphere of experience. This year, the speaker was Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal, a Sufi Muslim with a background in scientific research and Islamic study. He is the founder-president of the Center for Islamic Sciences...

By Emily Hilton-Nickel • March 15, 2018 • News

This weekend, the public is welcome to join scientists and theologians for the 17th annual Conference on Science and Religion. This year’s conference will feature Niels Henrik Gregersen, professor of systematic theology at the University of Copenhagen. The theme of the conference is “Deep Incarnation: From Cosmos to Commitment.” According to Carl Helrich, professor emeritus of physics, Gregersen, like featured speakers before him, chose the theme of the weekend. “[Gregersen’s] topic,” Helrich said, “is one he has been developing for a number of years.” Gregersen’s prior work has focused mostly on creation and Christology, as well as the philosophy of...

By Abby King • April 6, 2017 • News

The Goshen College science department has a new addition to its May Term Astronomy class: a 3.5 inch refractor telescope. The telescope was donated by Goshen College alumni Bob Gerber, who decided to regift the telescope to the science department after over 50 years of personal use. Gerber attended Goshen College from 1957-1961, where he graduated with a B.A. in chemistry. Although Gerber’s main work before he retired was as a general practice M.D., Gerber has always had a passion for physics and astronomy. “Since [college], it has become evident that physics might have been a better major”, said Gerber,...

By Ellen Conrad • January 19, 2017 • Features

Rocket Science is a unique ice cream shop that uses liquid nitrogen as their special ingredient. This shop is located at 401 East Market St. in Nappanee, in the Coppes Commons, just 16 miles from Goshen College. Rocket Science was voted one of the top 10 ice cream shops in the state earlier this year.  Two Goshen ice cream makers, The Chief and South Side Soda Shop, also appeared among the top 10 at visitindiana.com, but only Rocket Science applies liquid nitrogen. How exactly is this ice cream made? The first ingredient is important because the milk and sugar have...

By Sandra Camarillo • November 10, 2016 • Features