Inspire, Fall 1998

777-Ititttittettte EarthScience T he Department of Science and Mathematics of Cedarville College and the Biology Department of Mount Vernon Nazarene College sponsor an undergraduate conference on bioethical issues each fall. This intensive, one-day conference gives undergraduates a chance to learn about the discipline of bioethics from a visiting scholar and to participate in discussion groups with faculty and students from colleges throughout Ohio. The goal is to teach students how to solve bioethical and biomedical ethical dilemmas using scriptural principles.The validity of the sanctity of life concept, which is an integral part of the Christian worldview, is emphasized throughout the conference. The 1998 conference theme is"The Theological Basis of Bioethics" and will feature Dr. Scott Rae as the plenary speaker. T he College hosted the 36th Annual Conference of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association from July 13-17.The conference's theme was"Doing Today What Will Count For Eternity." The conference included seminars entitled "How to Prepare a Heart for God,""Fruits of a Heart for God,""Consequences of Not Having a Heart for God," and "Maintaining a Heart for God." Conference speakers included Dr. Warren Mattox, pastor of Community Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio; Dr. Chris Miller, associate professor of Bible at Cedarville College; and Dr. David Graham, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville. The FBFA is an association of predominantly African-American congregations. Its president is Dr. John McNeal(pictured), pastor of Atlanta Baptist Bible Church, Atlanta, Georgia. A record 645 young athletes attended the Yellow Jacket Sports Camps this summer.(amps offered included sessions in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, and girls volleyball. Cedarville College head coaches Jeff Reep'79(men's basketball), Kathy Freese(women's basketball), Elvin King'64N (cross country), Roger Swigart'90(men's soccer), John McGillivray'70(women's soccer), and Teresa Clark'75(volleyball)served as camp directors. Each week consisted of instruction and competition as well as spiritual enrichment for all resident and commuter campers. If you would like to get on the camp mailing list to receive a brochure for sessions in 1999, contact: Yellow Jacket Sports Camps,Cedarville College, P.O. Box 601, Cedarville, OH 45314 or phone 937-766-7755. in June 1998, Dr. Dennis Sullivan, associate Iprofessor of biology, had the opportunity to serve as a visiting lecturer at Hue Medical College in Vietnam He first gave a week-long block course in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.The lectures, which were interpreted into Vietnamese, were attended by about 120 students and professors. Dr. Sullivan also worked in the operating room,giving clinical lectures and teaching surgical technique. During the second week of his visit, he met with anatomy departments and gave lectures at Hanoi Medical College and Haiphong Medical School. Despite an intense teaching schedule, he had several opportunities to visit historic sites and see the countryside. Most importantly, he had the privilege of sharing his faith with several Vietnamese physicians. 4FALL'98 lumni Profiles Miller Pursues Research In Antarctica M oq people head for sunshine and tropical breezes in January. Penney Stackhouse Miller'89 spent January 1998 in Antarctica performing research for her doctoral dissertation and her laboratory at The Ohio State University. "1 was one offive people from Ohio State and the University of Colorado who went to McMurdo Station on Ross Island,just off the coast ofAntarctica.The research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the EPA.I was flown out by helicopter to several remote sites to collect water samples from partially frozen lakes. January is the height ofthe Antarctic summer,and temperatures approach 40 degrees most days," Penney shared. Penney and others are researching the fate of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs)in the Antarctic. Penney studied the chemical reactions ofPCBs and sunlight and how dissolved natural organic matter(like algae) would affect these chemical reactions."We anticipate that this research may help us to better understand how photochemical processes may influence the stability of manmade compounds that are transported to the Antarctic environment,"Penney explained. Being out on a challenging research site like Antarctica was rewarding, but the excursion was spiritually uplifting as well. "The beauty of creation was so awesome,"Penney shared. She experienced pristine scenery, magnificent wildlife, and a sun that never set."I was even able to get together with a small group of Christians at McMurdo Station for worship and Bible study," Penney noted. Penney continues with her research at The Ohio State University's Department of Geological Sciences. Both she and her husband,David '89, are working on their doctoral degrees while on fellowships. Penney hopes to complete her Ph.D. in about 18 months; David should complete his Ph.D. in chemical engineering this year."After that, we are unsure where God will take us. We both enjoy academics and research,so maybe we will continue in that arena." The Science Of Coffee W orking for Nestle USA might sound like an incredible treat for many. Visions ofcandy bars and hot cocoa would beckon much like Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. However,it wasn't the idea of great food that lured Phil Mohler'71 to join Nestle 26 years ago. Phil was looking for a place to use his chemistry degree from Cedarville College. Nestle offered him the opportunity, and he's been using his scientific skills and abilities at the corporation ever since. Phil began at the Regional Quality Assurance Lab then located in Marysville, Ohio and progressed to three factory labs(Fulton, New York;Ripon,California; and Suffolk, Virginia). He and his wife, Rebecca Harman Mohler'70,and three children, Sharon (23),Cedarville College sophomore Timothy(19),and Titus(15)moved to Suffolk, Virginia in 1994 where Phil currently works as quality assurance manager.Although this position at Nestle USA primarily utilizes his degree in science, Phil has also been required to be very active in the business management realm. However,Phil's favorite part ofthe job remains instrumental analysis, in accordance with his longtime interest in analytical chemistry. For the past 21 years of his career with Nestle, Phil has worked in the coffee division, helping develop such labels as Nescafe, Mountain Blend,Sunrise, Hills Bros., MJB,and Chase& Sanborn.In spite of his years ofclose association with coffee, Phil states,"Coffee is not my beverage of choice, but my family makes up for my personal lack ofconsumption!" However,he thoroughly enjoys the aroma offresh-roasted coffee, and performing taste evaluations of the various coffee blends is a pleasant challenge. Experienced tasters do not swallow the coffee, but merely swish it around in their mouths to get the flavor ofthe coffee. When the cost ofcoffee skyrocketed in the 70s, Nestle sought to make an instant coffee using a cheaper alternative as a coffee extender. They called upon their team of scientists and asked them to do the seemingly impossible. When Sunrise coffee was introduced in 1977,using chicory as a main ingredient, the "impossible" was scientifically accomplished. Several years later, Phil was a member of the team that developed a similar coffee/chicory blend named Mountain Blend which went on the market in 1986,and he was directly involved with the sensory and analytical evaluations ofthe product. Since that time,Phil has moved into more managerial facets of work. Although he has spent time in lab supervision, method development,and instrumental analysis, he now finds himself working primarily with quality systems development and implementation. While he spends much of his time training quality assurance personnel and food factory employees or writing reports and documentation, he still enjoys the time he spends in qualitative analysis of foreign matter found in food products. It is this time, when he is viewing life "under the microscope," that he is often reminded of his time spent in lab at Cedarville College. Today's Forecast: Cirrus Clouds att Boehm'96 developed an interest in meteorology in high school. Knowing that the weather could hold sunshine or rain, cold or warm temperatures helped prepare Matt for the day, but his math major at Cedarville College prepared Matt for doctoral studies at Penn State University."Meteorology is applied mathematics," states Matt,"and the math courses at Cedarville College prepared me well for the Ph.D.challenge." Matt began his doctoral studies in 1996 following graduation and anticipates completion of his dissertation by December 2000.He will spend the next two years conducting research for and writing his dissertation. Matt is a research assistant with the university, which allows him the time to work on his dissertation on the numerical modeling of cirrus clouds. Simply stated, Matt is using a computer simulation of cirrus clouds in the tropic region to find out how the clouds get to that destination and why they stay so long in the tropics. Cirrus clouds impact radiation upon entering and leaving the earth's atmosphere and ultimately affect climate change. Matt will study why this occurs, and the computer model helps demonstrate this. Prior to choosing Penn State's program, Matt sought the advice of his Cedarville College professors in making the final decision to go straight for a doctorate. Dr.James Sellers, Dr. Steve Gollmer, and Matt's advisor, Dr. Lee Eimers, all influenced Matt's decision. On sunny days Matt enjoys bike riding on Pennsylvania's mountain trails. Matt is also actively involved with Campus Bible Fellowship and will begin his second year as organization president in 1998-99. Campus Bible Fellowship is a ministry of Baptist Mid-Missions and is supported by Faith Baptist Church in State College, Pennsylvania.The group of 15 meets once a week for Bible study, testimony, and prayer. As president, Matt oversees the weekly meetings, weekend activities, and bi-yearly retreats. Matt carries a challenge with him from his senior year at Cedarville."Dr. Dixon,along with many guest speakers,challenged the student body to be light and salt to a world that needs Christ," Matt recalls. He is thankful for the opportunity to fulfill that challenge in a primarily non- Christian environment. Matt heard about Cedarville College from a Master's Puppets team that came to his home church. Since then he has successfully encouraged his younger siblings to attend Cedarville, too. His sister, Michelle,is a 1998 graduate with an elementary education degree, and brother Michael is currently a junior studying youth ministry.