by Kyrsten Turner | Nov 25, 2013 | News Slider
Service and learning can go hand-in-hand, and a group of 31 Lipscomb biology students are combining their academics with service to meet the needs of a Nashville-based, not-for-profit organization. Students in Dr. James English’s freshmen-level environmental biology course are working in conjunction with the Nashville Food Project to implement an irrigation plan for the organization’s Wedgewood garden. The class visited the garden a couple times at the beginning of the semester to evaluate the land structure before devoting the fall months to creating the land management plan. “The property is on a slight-gradient, so what you do is collect the water and bring that rain water up so that you can use it to flow down,” second-year Yellow Ribbon student Christopher Long said. “It’s kind of an intricate system, but it’s completely sustainable. “Basically, we use mother nature to sustain the garden.” Jamie Wilkerson, the class communications manager for the irrigation plan, is designing the irrigation system to pump water from the 5,000 gallon tank to the piping system, providing water to the garden. “It is awesome to have a class with an actual real life application,” Wilkerson said. “It has [provided] drive and interest.” The irrigation system is designed to use rain water, implementing a sustainable practice that has been around for generations. Wilkerson said he hopes the irrigation system will help the Nashville Food Project with their upcoming spring crops. “Our proposal is very detailed and has everything outlined down to the smallest materials needed to complete the project,” Wilkerson said. “I find this super exciting because we have created something that, if used, should work perfectly.” The...
by Monaih Sam | Jul 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Institute for Sustainable Practice (ISP) at Lipscomb University offers a variety of degrees for students in all phases of life, including an undergraduate Major in Environmental and Sustainable Science (ESS). Environmental and Sustainable Science covers interests in a diverse array of fields, ranging from Ecology, Wildlife Biology and Conservation, Environmental Law and Policy, Environmental Analysis, Environmental Management, Organic Food Production and many more personalized concentrations. Dr. James English, Academic Director for the ISP, said the program is more involved than just taking Science courses. “A few years ago, students in most of these fields would just take a concentration of biology courses and chemistry courses. Then, maybe 10 years ago, many schools developed a program in Environmental Science,” English said. “The Institute for Sustainable Practice has a program that includes all those rather traditional fields, but also includes very applied areas of sustainability.” The programs offered by the ISP aren’t confined to just students interested in Chemistry or Biology. All students in all majors are encouraged to find out what the program has to offer and find a specialized career. “You want to go to Law school, but specifically you want to go for Environmental Law – our program encompasses that,” English said. “I have students who want to be farmers, environmental consultants. I have students who want to be entrepreneurs and start their own ‘green business.’ “And, of course, a great many of our students are studying ecology, conservation and wildlife biology. The thing all these students have in common is they are learning how the environment works, and doing something substantial to lessen our impact on...
by Nick Glende | May 31, 2013 | News Slider
When students return for the fall semester, they will notice a lot of new attractions on campus. Over the summer, many construction teams will be hard at work to build several new projects. Kim Chaudoin, Director of Communication and Marketing, shed some light on each of the sites of construction and renovation. The first thing one might notice when walking through Bison Square will be the new Osman Fountain. Built to honor the Memory of Ty Osman II, a Harding student who died in a car accident last year, the fountain will also feature a baptistry. “We thought it was just a really fitting thing to have because our student’s faith is such an important part of what we do here at Lipscomb,” Chaudoin said. “Dr. Lowry has a vision of this being a place where if students decide they want to commit their life to Christ that they might come here and be baptized, right here in the middle of campus.” Students and faculty in the field of sciences can look forward to a new pharmacy and health sciences research facility, which will be located behind the McFarland building. The 15,000 square foot addition will include classrooms, labs and offices. “It’s our intent that just about any student that studies sciences will go through here at least once during their studies,” Chaudoin said. “We’re on target to finish by fall semester, so students should be able to use it soon.” At the Swang building, students are going to return to a new auditorium in Swang 108. The room has been stripped clean and will be receiving new seating,...
by Janice Ng | Mar 7, 2013 | News Slider
Lipscomb faculty and students are not shy about stating their opinions when it comes to the long-standing debate over faith and science. For the most part, they don’t say one side prevails over the other and agree that faith in God actually aids in the understanding of science. David McNutt, a biology major from Nashville, Tenn., is one student who believes there is a way to advocate both faith and science at the same time. “I think that there is an equal playing field,” McNutt said. “There are a lot of people who think one has to work without the other. I think that Christians can believe that science is ever-changing. A lot of things point towards evolution, but Christians can believe that there is a natural process that takes place, at the same time believing that God is completely in control.” Shivali Kanal, a biology major from Franklin, Tenn., draws a line between the two topics, describing faith as a way of life, and science as something current and ever-changing. “I think faith and science can sometimes get in the way of each other,” Kanal said. “For example, embryonic stem cell research is a huge issue today, and many people believe it’s not morally O.K. to kill embryos to get the embryonic stem cells and develop them into cells that can treat diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. “That’s a huge controversy. We could either save lives of diseased people right now, or save future lives. It has a lot of moral aspects to it, so that gets in the way.” Paul Justice, a physics major from Bowling Green,...
