Geoscience Research Institute Expands Global Reach to Adventist Universities

The Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) marked a significant milestone by approving two new branch offices and two new resource centers at its operating committee meeting in Loma Linda, California, United States, on February 26. These new GRI offices and centers strengthen the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s commitment to engage globally in the faith and science arena.

The new branch offices and resource centers are the result of strategic partnerships between GRI and Adventist educational institutions. During the operating committee meeting four memoranda of understanding were signed between GRI and the respective organizations. The Euro-Asia Division (ESD) branch office is based in Zaoksky Adventist University, Zaoksky, Russia. The office will be under the direction of Aleksei Popov, nuclear physicist. The West-Central Africa Division (WAD) branch office is located at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria; Oluwole Oyedeji, geologist, is the director of this office.

One of the requirements of branch offices is that they need to be led by a director holding a Ph.D. in a science-related field. The directors’ academic training enables them to coordinate research and education about origin and creation topics and allows them to promote creation-related activities on the university campus they are located, in their surrounding communities, and throughout the division territory that they serve.

One of the two new resource centers voted is located on the campus of the Adventist University of Chile, Chillán, Chile. This center is managed by César Arriagada Campos, who is a museology expert. The other resource center is located on the Engenheiro Coelho campus of the Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo. Tiago Souza, a biologist, is leading this center.

Prior to this expansion, GRI oversaw four operational branch offices. These are located across the globe in the Inter-European, Inter-American, Northern Asia-Pacific, and South American divisions. Besides the branch offices, there are 11 global active resource centers on various Adventist academic campuses.

“The establishment of new GRI branch offices and resource centers is a valuable and strategic step in expanding the reach of our message about creation and earth history,” said Ronny Nalin, director of GRI. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with ESD and WAD leaders and representatives of the two universities to bring their vision to life. The greater objective is to strengthen professional networks, harness greater academic expertise, equip effective educators, and provide focus and resources on this important facet of the Adventist message.”

The recent establishment of these offices is the result of the need for intentional engagement in faith and science, coupled with long-range planning. The strengthened network will enhance GRI’s ability to provide resources, training, and research opportunities to scholars, students, and church members worldwide.

As Robert Osei-Bonsu, president of WAD, said: “These centers will reflect the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s commitment to upholding biblical truth while engaging in scholarly inquiry that strengthens our faith and witness in an age of scientific advancement.”