Kindschi honored with symposium

After 28 years as dean of Science and Mathematics, P. Douglas Kindschi is stepping down from that role into a new position as a professor in both the Mathematics and Philosophy departments. To celebrate his career and his new appointment, Grand Valley is holding a special symposium on Science, Philosophy and Ethics on April 2-3.

'My reading and my own work has always had a philosophy flair to it. So this will be very satisfying to me as I take up my faculty role to be able to work both in the mathematics that I was educated for, as well as philosophy which really has been one of my strong avocations and one of my strong areas of study. I'm very pleased with that opportunity,' Kindschi said.

Kindschi has long been interested in the interface between religion and science. He, along with philosophy professor Teresa Castelao-Lawless, developed the course SCI 321: Science, Mathematics and Religion: Different Ways of Knowing. The course studies the conflicts and convergence between science and religion and examines both historic and contemporary issues which have defined these two powerful forces in society.

Likewise, Philosophy Chair Kelly Parker said that department is thrilled to have a scholar like Kindschi among its ranks.

'I was surprised when he said he was interested in a joint appointment. But It made so much sense as soon as I thought about it,' said Parker. 'He's been working with members of our faculty ever since he developed the course with Teresa. He's been active with a science and religion reading group, and he's had a lot of contact with our department.'

The symposium will be in the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center on April 2-3.

On April 2, the first session on the topic of Science and Philosophy will run from 1-3 p.m. The session features speakers John W. Stewart, associate professor of ministry and evangelism at Princeton Theological Seminary and Loren Haarmsma, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Calvin College. The second session, on Ethic s of Leadership, runs from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and features speakers John Keiser, president of Southwest Missouri State University and Grand Valley President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers. Grand Valley President Mark A. Murray will moderate that session.

On Apri l 3, a session from 9-11:45 a.m. is on the topic of Environmental Ethics. Speakers include A. Carl Leopold, W.H. Crocker Scientist Emeritus from Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University, Peter S. Wenz, professor of philosophy and leg al studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield and Paul Heltne, co-director of Center for Humans and Nature. The symposium wraps up with a session on biomedical ethics from 12:30-3 p.m. Speakers include Hope College religion Professor Allen D. Verhey and Paul Huizenga, associate professor of biology at Grand Valley.

The sessions are free and open to the public. A reception will follow each session, and a complimentary lunch will be served between the sessions on Saturday. There is no fee for this conference, but reservations must be made to assure adequacy of room size and food service. Please register by March 30 at www.gvsu.edu/ethicsrsvp or call 331-2261.