SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD
Gerald B. Cleaver, PhD.
Professor of Physics, Baylor University | Advisory Board Member, Story Radius
Gerald B. Cleaver is a leading theoretical physicist and Professor of Physics at Baylor University, where he directs the Early Universe Cosmology and String Theory (EUCOS) division within the Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics, and Engineering Research (CASPER).
He earned his Ph.D. from Caltech in 1993 under the mentorship of John H. Schwarz—one of the founders of string theory—and has spent over 25 years advancing the frontiers of physics while mentoring the next generation of scientists. To date, he has guided 15 Ph.D. and M.S. students to graduation and currently supervises six Ph.D. candidates.
Cleaver’s expertise includes:
Theoretical models of the early universe, including string theory and loop quantum gravity
The mysteries of dark energy and dark matter
Wormholes and warped spacetime geometries
An accomplished communicator and problem solver, Cleaver has authored over 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers and conference presentations. He is also co-author of a textbook on elementary particle physics and has contributed to six other books. Beyond academia, he serves as editor-in-chief of two physics journals, sits on multiple editorial boards, and frequently reviews work across both scientific and theological publications.
His thought leadership spans science, technology, and faith. He is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation and the Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation, and has received several project grants from the John Templeton Foundation.
Cleaver is also actively engaged in innovation, serving on advisory boards for two tech startups. Outside the lab, he enjoys exploring the depths of both the ocean and the cosmos—through SCUBA diving, sailing, Taekwondo, and writing about the philosophical implications of multiverse theories.
Cleaver says of what sparked his interest in science, “My interest in cosmology was first inspired by Star Trek (the original series) and its fictional Enterprise crew exploring ‘strange new worlds’ followed by watching launches of the much less advanced, but real-life, Apollo missions and the astronaut crews.” He continued, “I have remained a huge Star Trek fan and NASA supporter for nearly 60 years.”
michael dennin, PhD.
Professor of Physics & ASTRONOMY | Advisory Board Member, Story Radius
Professor Dennin has been Professor of Physics and Astronomy at UCI since 1997, and was appointed the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education in May 2015.
He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Princeton University, and his PhD and Masters in Physics from UCSB.
His research focuses on the dynamics of foams, Langmuir monolayers, modeling of ice mélange, and institutional issues in education. The studies in complex fluids are crucial for many applications including foam use in oil recovery as well as granular matter in the form of powders and pills in the medical industry.
Dennin is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Sloan Research Fellow, and a Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar. He is a recipient of UCI Senate awards in all three categories: UCI Senate Distinguished Mid-Career Award for Service, UCI Senate Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, and UCI Senate Distinguished Assistant Professor Award for Research. Professor Dennin has been very active in translating educational research to practical applications within the university.
He is dedicated to public outreach in the area of science – teaching a number of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), including co-teaching one based on the AMC television program The Walking Dead. He has appeared on numerous television programs – including Science of Superman, Spider-man Tech, Batman Tech, Star Wars Tech, and Ancient Aliens. You can find Prof. Dennin on his YouTube Channel (http:// https://www.youtube.com/michaeldennin) with interviews focused on higher education and his series Physics of X.
In addition, Prof. Dennin serves as an expert on the podcast Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear-Based Technologies where he explains how to make fictional technology a reality (http://fgggbt.com).
Recently, he published a science outreach book on the intersection between science and faith: Divine Science: Finding Reason at the Heart of Faith, from Franciscan Media.
derek schuurman, PhD.
Professor of computer science | Advisory Board Member, Story Radius
Derek C. Schuurman completed a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at McMaster University in the area of robotics and computer vision using machine learning.
He is currently professor of computer science at Calvin University, a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, and an advisor for AI & Faith.
He is the author of the book Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology and co-author of A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers, both published by InterVarsity Academic Press.
On a movie that inspired him personally, Schuurman says, “I have come to appreciate the movie Wall-E, a parable about humanity and its relationship with technology.” He continued, “Wall-E portrays both the dismal consequences of allowing technology to make us less human while ending with a hopeful scene that suggests the possibility of flourishing for us and the entire planet if we can steer a responsible direction for technology.”
Robert J. Buchanan, M.D.
Professor and physician-scientist | Advisory Board Member, Story Radius
Robert J. Buchanan, M.D. is the only physician-scientist in the USA who is board-certified by both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is currently a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin. He practices both Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
His research examines the electrophysiological signals responsible for human memory and emotion.
He has published in scientific journals such as Science Advances, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Journal of Neuroscience, and Hippocampus, just to name a few. His clinical practice in neurosurgery is limited to surgical treatment of epilepsy, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Spinal Cord Stimulation. As a psychiatrist, he has referred patients with neurological diseases who have severe psychiatric symptoms.
Dr. Buchanan is a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, first appointed under the reign of Benedict XVI. He examines the risks to personhood associated with the interface of technology with the human central nervous system to achieve cognitive enhancement.
His interest in science and technology was accelerated by the movies Planet of the Apes (1968) and Star Wars (1977).