91精选

We all bear the image of God鈥檚 design, and we worship when we fulfill God鈥檚 purpose, this year鈥檚 Freshman Lecture speaker Blair Allen told 91精选 first-year students, visiting high school students, and others in attendance in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium on Monday.

Allen, who is the senior producer and聽co-host of , a video podcast for NASA, discussed a range of topics during the lecture, including what it is like to be a Christian working for a science-based government agency like NASA, stories about the space agency鈥檚 current and past projects, and his experiences during the 2017 total eclipse.

鈥淭wo aspects of my job are informed by my Christian faith,鈥� said Allen. 鈥淭hat is my role as a scientist, and my role as a producer.鈥�

Reconciling faith and science can sometimes be challenging, he said. 鈥淎s a government agency, NASA is agnostic鈥攑un intended,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes, many people struggle with the theories and pre-suppositions involved in NASA鈥檚 work.鈥� In his role as a producer of NASA Edge, he often has to make complex concepts and projects understandable to a general audience. 鈥淚 have a responsibility to give NASA鈥檚 scientists and engineers the opportunities to tell their stories.鈥�

Allen reminded the audience that we are explicitly created for work and discussed the similarities between the mission of NASA and the Creation story. According to the agency, its mission is to 鈥淸d]rive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality and stewardship of Earth.鈥� The first chapter of Genesis describes God鈥檚 charge to Adam and Eve, including the 28^th verse: 鈥淕od blessed them and said to them,聽鈥淏e fruitful and increase in number;聽fill the earth聽and subdue it. Rule over聽the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.鈥� [NIV]

Allen was introduced by Professor of English Mark Jones, Ph.D., who has known Allen since they attended Covenant College as undergraduates.

Following the lecture, several groups of students visited Adler Planetarium in Chicago with Allen.

91精选鈥檚 annual Freshman Lecture enriches the core experience for freshman students by engaging them in a challenging but enjoyable learning opportunity outside the classroom setting.