About

My professional work is devoted to exploring, teaching, and communicating science. I am currently Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Sciences, the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center (formerly Space Sciences Center) of the University of Missouri. I have spent decades investigating the effects of oxygen-derived free radicals on biological systems, educating students, publishing scientific research, and writing to bridge the gap between specialized scientific knowledge and public understanding of science. Significantly, I believe the truths of science and religious faith must be, and are, compatible.

Throughout my career I have authored approximately 150 scientific publications and six books addressing biology, medicine, toxicology, evolution, scientific discovery, and the relationship between science and faith. I have been privileged to serve as Managing Editor of Frontiers in Bioscience (an on-line Encyclopedia of Science and Medicine); to lead and direct laboratory research; to participate in and lead professional and scientific organizations; to serve as an invited reviewer for government agencies including NIH, NIEHS, EPA, ATSDR, AIBS, DOD, and others; to contribute to the development of the ACT and MCAT examinations; and to serve as a scientific expert witness in courts in 29 U.S. states and Canada, explaining complex scientific issues to judges and juries.

At the University of Oklahoma, I earned the B.S. in Laboratory Technology, the M.S. in Bacteriology, and the Ph.D. in Microbiology. My laboratory work has focused on oxygen biology, metabolism, undersea diving, space exploration, and the medical uses of oxygen.

I have received recognition for scientific achievement and professional service as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, and a member of Sigma Xi.

Selected Podcasts, Interviews, and Reviews

The following articles, interviews, podcasts, and media features are available online. Click any title to open it in a new browser tab.

My current scientific interests include biological complexity, evolutionary theory, probability modeling, science education, and the relationship between scientific knowledge and faith. Through this website I share my books, publications, ongoing research, and perspectives on science, faith, and the remarkable complexity of the natural world.