College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Dr. Timothy Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research says the truth is in the rocks and the scientific data. The truth for him is that the great flood mentioned in the Bible did happen, dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark, and the Earth is thousands of years old, not millions — assertions questioned by audience members at his GCU talk Friday.

How do fictional shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Bones” compare to an actual crime lab? Melissa Beddow, GCU associate professor of forensic science, talked about the “CSI” effect recently at the Arizona Science Center.

Geoscientist Dr. Timothy Clarey, who worked for Chevron USA for many years, says what the rocks have shown him support biblical text: “It’s a beautiful thing. I really get to tell people that God’s word is true.” He will speak Friday at GCU.

GCU’s third-year engineering students returned this year to cutting edge new labs and a spiffed up curriculum that allows them to easily apply a broad array of concepts. Students are conducting experiments with such high-tech lab equipment as the Reynolds Apparatus in the new transport phenomena lab and torsion and testers in the new biomaterials labs.

Welcome Week 2017 promises to be another busy and festive time for students as they return to campus. But it’s extremely important, too. “The week says to all, ‘You belong here,’” said Charity Norman, manager of GCU’s Student and Family Program.

Here’s a family that has taken devotion to Grand Canyon University to a new level: Not only does Renee Taillon work and study at GCU, so do her three children — twins Christian and Jared and daughter Kirie. “We really do bleed purple in our family,” Renee said.

More than 130 Chief Science Officers from middle and high schools across Arizona are learning leadership, communication and team-building skills this week at the second annual GCU-hosted CSO Training Institute. In just two years, the program has spread not only across the state but also nationally with 13 states following Arizona’s example. CSOs are elected by their peers to act as STEM ambassadors at their schools and communities.

An Amazon software engineer described her colorful career path Thursday to a Code.org cohort of 25 Arizona educators. The K-12 teachers are at GCU this week to learn AP Science Principles, part of the GCU Strategic Educational Alliances mission to spread love of STEM through the teachers.

Starting in August, GCU is offering a new Master of Science in Cyber Security, an online degree intended to arm students with skills to detect and prevent cyber attacks like the recent WannaCry ransomware worm that raced across the internet. GCU students will learn the tricks of the hackers, but as Hackers-with-Halos their goal is to help and protect people.

More than 30 campers attending GCU’s Cipher Avenger STEM camp this week are thrilled that they are doing computer programming, using code and building servers and websites. The hands-on learning style that GCU champions is so enthralling, the room filled with high school juniors and seniors was quiet with concentration.