of Poster Abstracts (Alphabetical by last name of presenter)
Jacob P. ADAMS (Univ. of Oklahoma, PhD candidate in biomedical engineering) co-authors Luke Pauli, Trisha Valerio, Coline Furrer, Abdul Naqash, Wei R.Chen
“Synergistic Effects between Localized Ablative Immunotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Murine Metastatic Melanoma Model”
Metastatic cancers, the cause of most cancer deaths, have proven to be difficult to treat through traditional means such as surgery and radiation. Combination therapies have been proposed to overcome limitations of monotherapies, and previous studies have shown that this strategy can help fight late-stage and metastasized cancers. We analyzed the combination of localized ablative immunotherapy (LAIT), chosen due to its ability to simultaneously prime systemic immune responses and ablate the primary tumor, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in a metastatic melanoma model. Specifically, we evaluated an anti-interleukin-6 antibody and an anti-lymphocyte activation gene 3 antibody as checkpoint inhibitors, each of which has been shown to induce antitumor responses on their own. We found that the combination demonstrated synergistic effects. Specifically, while neither combination demonstrated dominance over the other, the trend suggests that both can improve survival, with anti-lymphocyte activation gene 3 enhancing cytokine expression more than anti-interleukin-6. These results suggest that combining LAIT with immune checkpoint inhibitors can effectively treat metastatic disease and improve patient outcomes. Our future work will focus on understanding the mechanism for this combination to guide future investigations into combination therapy.
Agnes BERKI (Ave Maria University, Professor of Biology) [co-authors Jacob Blanchard, Stephen Cronin, Nicholas Curtis, Brett Feger, Alexander Heatherly, Ladislav Sallai, Samuel Shephard, Sandra Tirado, and Stephen Wirick]
“Undergraduate Independent Research Facilitates Academic and Personal Development – A Unique Project Development Methods”
Undergraduate students who conduct independent research learn first-hand the steps of scientific inquiry. Gaining an understanding of the scientific method enhances their logical thinking skills and prepares them for graduate school and the workforce, going beyond textbook knowledge. The independent nature of research allows students to develop their own research questions with the guidance of a faculty mentor who offers support and encouragement throughout the process: from project development and execution to the presentation of findings. This experience not only reinforces textbook learning but also fosters deeper scholarly inquiry. The method of project selection and development is crucial to the success of independent undergraduate research. We have developed a unique and proven approach, evidenced by over a hundred successfully completed student projects. This poster will outline the steps of our method. In brief, the student serves as the originator and driver of the research. Because students maintain ownership of their projects, the experience profoundly impacts on their personal growth, particularly in written communication, verbal articulation, and professional confidence. Furthermore, this model more effectively prepares students for success in higher education and integration into the workforce.
Gabriela BREEN (Ave Maria University, undergraduate student)
"Vault Particles: Exploring Nature’s Vessel for Therapeutic Innovation"
The vault nanoparticle is one of the largest protein complexes in the eukaryotic cell, with an estimated 10,000 vaults in every cell. Since the vault’s discovery by Dr. Leonard Rome and Dr. Nancy Kerdersha in 1986, much is yet to be discovered about the function of the vault within eukaryotic cells, but more specifically, human cells. Studies have shown that the vault has great potential to serve as a drug delivery mechanism to aid in the treatment of cancer and viruses. However, a major hurtle in the discovery of the vault's function is acquiring enough vaults to study as extraction of vaults from cells is a lengthy, laborious, and exceedingly difficult process. We aim to learn more about the vault by resolving the bottleneck issue through in vitro synthesis using a novel method which prior to our success was thought impossible.
Kate BULINSKI (Bellarmine, Professor of Geosciences)
“The Archdiocese of Louisville Faith and Science Dialogue Group: A Model for Diocesan Catechesis and Outreach”
An important but underappreciated avenue for catechesis in the Catholic Church involves embracing both faith and science as two compatible and complementary ways of learning about our greater reality. Given that there is clear documentation that disaffiliation from the Church is associated in part with perceptions of faith/science conflict, dispelling misinformation and celebrating the contributions of Catholic scientists can provide clarity, especially for children when they raise questions about how faith and science fit together. Prompted by increased interest after the 2017 total solar eclipse, local scientists, clergy, science educators, and staff within the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky have been meeting to discuss topics related to faith and science. This effort is now formally known as the Archdiocese Faith and Science Dialogue Group and functions as an outreach ministry of the Office of Faith Formation and as a regional chapter of the Society of Catholic Scientists. Over the last 8 years, our group organized and hosted Gold Masses and lectures, public outreach events, and workshops for K-12 teachers and catechists. We have also published articles for our local Catholic newspaper and are currently in the process of assembling a
faith and science resource book for the Archdiocese. Our efforts have been met with enthusiasm and broad interest from parishes and schools. Our events seem to be a popular way for people to explore their faith lives through something a little different than the usual bible studies or catechetical training sessions. As far as we know, the Archdiocese of Louisville is the only diocese that has an official ministry dedicated to faith and science work, and so we consider this to be a model for what could be duplicated in other dioceses across the country. This poster will describe how this initiative unfolded, our current work, and our plans moving forward.
Peter CHIRICO (Federal Government Research Geoscientist)
“Unearthing Justice: Artisanal Mining, Geoscience, and Catholic Social Teaching”
This poster explores the intersection of geomorphology, artisanal mining, and Catholic social teaching through the lens of my scientific research and personal vocation. As a geoscientist working on landform evolution, resource security, and the use of geospatial technology to map mineral deposits, I have spent years studying the tropical landscapes where gold, diamonds, and critical minerals accumulate—and witnessing the lives of the small-scale miners who extract them under precarious and often exploitative conditions.
These miners, operating in informal economies shaped by poverty, corruption, and global demand, reveal a deep disconnection between the Earth's natural processes, the dignity of work, and the technocratic paradigms that commodify both labor and landscape. Drawing on Catholic social teaching—particularly Laudato Si’, with its call to care for our common home; the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church and Rerum Novarum , which affirm the dignity of work and the need for just economic structures; and Antiqua et Nova, which emphasizes the responsible use of technology in harmony with human dignity and the common good—this work asks: How can a Catholic scientist engage ethically with these realities? What does it mean to witness injustice while practicing a vocation rooted in discovery and resource extraction?
The poster is informed by case examples from fieldwork, remote sensing satellite images, and maps of alluvial mineral deposits, and reflections on the geologic and human timescales that shape these systems. It also proposes an integrative model of "scientific encounter," — a harmonization of moral responsibility and scientific inquiry offering a vision of science, as Pope Francis stated, that is “united in charity [when it] is put at the service of the men and women of our time, and not distorted to their detriment or even destruction”.
Wojciech ‘Al’ CHROSNY (TreeAge Software LLC, Chief Scientific Officer)
“Analogical thinking from Artificial Intelligence through Economics and beyond”
In my 2023 and 2024 poster presentations I shared how my insights from early A.I. genetic algorithms work led me to examine relationships between a programmer as a creator of the “artificial life” environment and between God as the creator of the universe. I explored analogies between God’s Love and human love. These analogical exercises became surprisingly fruitful in the domain of healthcare survival analysis. The analogies between hazards and survival and velocity and distance, are not well recognized in the survival analysis community. I will present a visualization of this analogy in our software. I will share the adoption of this new approach in the field of healthcare economics. I will point to its potential in other areas of modeling.
I will share my recent research on the topic of analogical thinking from three different authors. Prof. Peter Kreeft’s 2021 book “How to destroy Western Civilization” highlights his observation of a general decline in the ability to apply analogical thinking among students over several decades. In David Epstein’s 2019 book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” the author is presenting wide range of successful applications of analogical experiences across many centuries and different fields of human excellence (e.g. dispute between Galileo and Keppler over causes of ocean tides). Finally, I will present my reflections on the seminal Catholic work by Fr. Erich Przywara S.J., the 1932 “Analogia entis” (Analogy of being). Przywara was a teacher of Hans Urs von Balthasar, and a mentor of Edith Stein (Saint Benedicta of the Cross). Przywara’s metaphysics drew analogies from musical theory to express dynamic oscillations between essence (consciousness) and existence (being). I will transpose these analogies to differential equations with examples of strange attractors. I will make the case for nurturing of analogical thinking in all fields of human creativity.
Ben CLARK (Michigan State University, Physics PhD Student)
“The Thomistic Interpretation of the Wave Function”
The discovery of quantum mechanics caused significant turmoil in the scientific community, with many prominent physicists rejecting the ontology of its key principles. This led to the widespread adoption of the instrumentalist Copenhagen interpretation and a disregard of the challenging metaphysical claims of quantum mechanics. However, many of the interpretative difficulties surrounding quantum mechanics stem from metaphysical assumptions that became dominant during the Enlightenment.
In this talk, I will provide a brief historical overview of metaphysics, tracing the decline of Aristotelian metaphysics over the past 500 years and its replacement by mechanistic philosophy. I will argue that many of the so-called paradoxes of quantum mechanics arise not from empirical science but from assumptions inherent to the mechanistic worldview that lack scientific justification. Finally, I will propose an interpretation of quantum mechanics grounded in the metaphysical framework of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas that dispels many paradoxes, demonstrating why this perspective deserves serious consideration for advancing our scientific understanding.
Martin GONZALES and Gracemarie YEH (Ave Maria University, undergraduate students)
"Vault 3045: Making a Scaffold for Nature’s Tiny Cathedrals"
The major vault protein (MVP) is a large protein complex assembled into a hollow, barrel-like structure and found in all eukaryotic cells. Despite its discovery in 1986, its precise function is still unknown; however, it has been linked to certain cancers and is theorized to have transport capabilities, which could be used for drug delivery. It is difficult to efficiently isolate, and thus a reliable method to obtain the vault protein is needed to facilitate further research on it. We are seeking to develop such a protocol through a method of denaturing and refolding the protein. Building upon our previous successes, our lab has continued investigating the refolding of the vault protein by improving upon the refolding conditions. In recent experiments, we have discovered a method to consistently refold the MVPs into full vaults, through special additives and the optimization of buffer conditions. Results of the refolding were analyzed through dynamic light scattering, and we partnered with the University of Florida to further analyze our samples with electron microscopy. With our current successes, our future plans involve finding ways to engineer the vaults for therapeutic purposes against diseases such as Leishmaniasis and various cancers.
Jeffrey W. HERRMANN (Catholic University of America, St. Abbo of Fleury Endowed Chair in Engineering)
“Monitoring Mapping and Navigation Processes on an Autonomous Mobile Robot”
Because an autonomous mobile robot has limited onboard computational resources (due to size, weight, and power limits), maximizing the robot’s performance, efficiency, safety, and reliability requires optimizing the use of those resources. This poster describes an empirical study that measured the CPU utilization of a mobile ground robot during mapping and navigation activities in order to identify the reasoning processes that consume the most CPU time and how CPU utilization changes as the robot operates. Four mapping procedures were tested in two different indoor environments. The CPU usage of the reasoning processes was recorded automatically during robot operation. The results show dynamic changes in CPU utilization and highlight the processes with the highest CPU consumption. The findings provide insights into the computational effort required by different mapping and navigation algorithms, which can inform the development of robots and autonomous systems.
Robert HORTON (Iowa State University, Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, Department of Agronomy)
“A Sensor that Measures Soil Properties and Soil Heat and Water Fluxes”
Topsoil experiences large diurnal and seasonal ranges in temperature and water content, which influence soil biological, chemical and physical processes. Temperature and water content result from transient distributions of heat and water fluxes. Very few practical methods exist with the capability to measure heat and water fluxes in soil. It is somewhat surprising that soil scientists and hydrologists have not developed methods to directly measure soil water fluxes. Most water flux estimates require a known value of hydraulic conductivity. Because hydraulic conductivity varies several orders of magnitude over the normal range of ambient soil water contents, estimates of hydraulic conductivity are crude and noisy, and thus soil water flux estimates are rough and more qualitative than quantitative. Developing a reliable method to quantify soil water flux without the need for hydraulic conductivity represents a soil hydrology breakthrough. Recent advancements in fine-scale thermo-TDR measurements of soil thermal and electrical properties provide opportunities to measure state variables in soil (temperature, water content, ice content, and air-filled porosity), soil properties (bulk density, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and bulk electrical conductivity) and energy and water fluxes in soil (sensible heat, latent heat for evaporation or freezing, infiltrating liquid water, and upward moving liquid water). It is also possible to estimate soil hydraulic property values from thermo-TDR thermal property and electrical property measurements. This poster presentation includes data derived from laboratory and field investigations that demonstrate the usefulness of thermo-TDR measurements to characterize selected soil property values and soil heat, liquid water, and water vapor (evaporation) fluxes in soil. The flux measurement approaches are new and can be applied in future soil heat and water transfer investigations.
Paul S. JULIENNE (Emeritus Fellow Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland)
“Science and the Intelligibility of Being”
The natural sciences have obtained a vast range of knowledge from the atomic to the cosmological scales. Albert Einstein recognized the mystery of the intelligibility of being, the mystery of the conformity of being to our minds, when he wrote: “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility … The fact that it is comprehensible is a miracle.” This talk examines scientific, philosophical, and theological dimensions of this intelligibility in the light of the nonreductive metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas and a recent proposal by Matthew Younans (in his book Matter and Mathematics) that Aristotelian essentialism can help us understand the character of the laws of physics. Younan’s proposal is deepened by using Aquinas’s account of human cognition and the real difference between formal and existential being. Form, manifesting the hylomorphic nature of existent material things, comes to be immaterial noetic form in the human mind through the powers of the intellectual soul and thus comes to articulation in human speech, including in the formal mathematical speech of the equations of physics. The radical difference between the being of created entities and the Being of their ever-greater Source introduces a necessary apophatic dimension in our understanding of all being that helps us integrate insights from Bohr, Heisenberg and Bohm. Thomistic metaphysics lets us make sense of the remarkable intelligibility of being and shows the need to integrate the implicate orders of the true and the good, opening a path to overcome the separation of fact and value in modern thought and encouraging the seeking of wisdom in the practice of science and technology.
Esther Wangeci KARIUKI (Strathmore University, Kenya, Teaching Fellow)
“Virtue and Purification of the Soul in Plato’s Meno”
In the Meno, according to Socrates, the acquisition of virtue is dependent on two things: the recollection of knowledge and the purification of the soul through aporia and reincarnation. Indeed, one can learn virtue to a certain degree from teachers as well as the practice or exercise of virtues such as temperance etc. However, in the Meno, the acquisition of virtue takes on a mystical stance. Socrates seems convinced that virtue is something that comes from the combination of recollecting knowledge, soul reincarnation and soul purification. He is persuaded that no amount of teaching, learning, practice can eventually produce virtue. In his eyes, virtue is a gift from the gods. Such premise leads to a level that makes some people virtuous to a certain degree in this life. But it is purity of soul that eventually leads to wisdom in the afterlife. This wisdom can only be acquired if one has made the effort to recollect knowledge of virtue in this life.
The Meno can also be considered as a warning about the ways one should not try to acquire virtue, such as turning to sophists or trying to learn from men considered reputable by society who have nevertheless failed to transmit this virtue to their children. In the same way, it is impossible that one learns from practice because those possessing virtue cannot explain how they managed to reach it. Therefore, in his demonstration of recollecting of the knowledge, the philosopher tries to prove that virtue is more than a good lesson received from a sophist but on the contrary, it has a mystical connotation to it which can only be explained as a gift from the gods - theiai moirai.
There is much overlap between proposals for more scientific research on mimetic theory and proposals for the development of a scientific psychology of evil. One problem with all such proposals is that modern science has developed according to Francis Bacon’s proposal that power over nature is the sole determinant of what is and is not a legitimate topic for scientific
John G.W. KELLEY (Affiliate Research Professor, The University of New Hampshire) and Will PETERSON (Founder of Modern Catholic Pilgrim, Executive Director Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego)
"Impact of Weather on the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage"
The biggest Eucharistic Pilgrimage in the history of the Catholic Church was held in the United States in 2024 as part of a three-year long National Eucharistic Revival. The purpose of the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) was to ignite a spiritual renewal across the Church in the U.S., focusing on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The NEP was a partnership between the National Eucharistic Congress, Inc. and the Modern Catholic Pilgrim organization. The NEP consisted of four simultaneous routes starting at the four cardinal points in contiguous U.S with all routes ending in Indianapolis, IN, the site of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. The pilgrimage was 65 days long from May 19th to July 16th. The pilgrimage had a combined distance of 6,500 miles and passed through 27 states. The pilgrimage stopped at shrines, Catholic schools, retreat centers, nursing homes, prisons, churches, and chapels in small towns and large cities. The pilgrims traveled on foot, by van, and boat. It was estimated that 250,000 people encountered the Eucharistic Jesus along the four routes. As it is for any outdoor event, weather is an important factor for both the organizers of the Pilgrimage and participants. During the NEP, the pilgrims and clergy along the four routes experienced a variety of weather conditions including thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, oppressive heat, and even the remnants of early season tropical cyclone. High temperatures affected the western, eastern, and especially the southern route during most of the NEP with June being the 3rd warmest June for the contiguous U.S. in the 130-year record. Organizers had to shorten or cancel several processions due to the heat for the safety of the pilgrims and the public. Organizers also had to shorten or move some processions indoors due to heavy rain or thunderstorms.
Philip KINDLER (Georgie State University, Dept. of Neuroscience, PhD student) [co-authors Geert de Vries, Aras Petrulis]
“The Role of the Sex-Different Vasopressin System in Territorial Defense”
Vasopressin (AVP) is a neuropeptide that is expressed in a sex-different manner in the mammalian brain and has been repeatedly tied to social behavior across taxa. This sex-different expression is clearest in the projections of the AVP-positive neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to the AVP-receptor-positive (V1aR) neurons of the lateral septum (LS). These projections are much denser in males than females, suggesting that they may be tied to male-specific processes. Indeed, previous work from our lab has shown that altering activity of the BNST to LS AVP pathway alters patterns of male-male investigation in a mouse model. However, the motivation behind the changes in investigation is still unclear. One possibility is that these projections are involved in territorial defense, a male-male specific behavior. To determine whether this is the case, we will utilize both a V1aR-Cre driver mouse model, and DREADD system (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated By Designer Drugs), allowing excitation or inhibition of V1aR cells within the LS. Territorial defense will be measured using a novel Competitive Resident Intruder (CRI) assay. In this assay, a male mouse of a larger and more aggressive strain (CD1) will be placed into the home cage of the experimental mouse for ten minutes before removal. Number and duration of various aggressive and defensive behaviors will be measured, during either DREADD-mediated excitation or inhibition of LS V1aR neurons.
James J. LEE (University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Associate Professor)
"The Perils of Genetic Engineering"
There is great enthusiasm in some circles for genetic engineering—techniques to exert human choice over the genetics of newborns. There are two classes of such techniques. The first, selection, sifts through the genetic variation occurring among the several embryos generated in a cycle in vitro fertilization (IVF) and selects for implantation the one deemed genetically optimal by the parents or clinicians. The rest of the embryos are typically destroyed. Because of the advances in human genetics over the past two decades, such selection can have substantial effects on the physical appearance, health, and intelligence exhibited by the offspring surviving this procedure. The second class of techniques, editing, contemplates the direct modification of an embryo’s genome with CRISPR-like methods to bring about genetic combinations that cannot normally result from the genomes of the parents. At the current stage of such technologies, editing is also inconsistent with the protection of the unborn. In 2021, I published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal condemning the selection method and at this meeting can present and perhaps extend my arguments.
Sophie LYMAN (Solar Household Energy, Inc., Executive Director)
“Adam and Eve: a biblical account of hominin evolution”
The story of “Adam and Eve” in Genesis 2 and 3 can be interpreted (from “Young’s literal translation) to describe the evolution of mankind, particularly the general scientific consensus on hominin evolution. This interpretation also solves several biblical mysteries. First, the river out of Eden is the Great Rift valley which was filled with water millions of years ago, that gave rise to today’s four major regional rivers. Furthermore, the “tree of life” and the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” are conflated in the story because they represent the evolutionary/phylogenetic tree of life with its hominin branches/family tree characterized by increasing skull size and social intelligence. Eating or partaking of this tree is an analogy for evolving, which for hominin females eventually meant painful childbirth due to limited birth canal size (“in sorrow thou dost bear children”).
The story describes other hominin aspects that distinguish modern humans from ancestral (and most current) primates: language, pair-bonding associated with sexual monomorphism, loss of the os baculum, and increased group co-operation; predatory pressure, primarily from snakes, selecting for superior vision and reflexes, and finger-pointing leading to shared focuses and improved social intelligence; progressive loss of body hair to full nakedness allowing emotional reading and leading to modesty and shame with its implications for social order. The story mentions diet changes from fruit-eating early hominins, to eating tubers and scavenging “from the ground” due to climate aridification, followed by humans’ unique capacity for persistence hunting enabled “by the sweat of thy brow.” Finally, it describes the two emigration waves of the “out of Africa” theory, and major evolutionary drivers such as the pulsed climate variability theory with cyclical periods of extreme aridity ("returning/revolving blazing drought/sword").
David MASCAREÑAS (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
“Blockchain as a Rigorous Foundation for Trustworthy Catholic Artificial Intelligence”
In recent years the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence, large language models (LLM) have grown to the point that they capture the attention of the general public. These LLMs have demonstrated the ability to write poetry, summarize text, re-stylizing text, and writing computer code. There have even been some claims these models have shown satisfactory performance at completing professional examinations. Of particular interest to Catholics, multiple LLM’s have emerged for performing question and answering tasks. The primary concerns that arises when using these Catholic question and answering systems is the provenance of the source material. Another issue with these systems is that different systems have been observed to provide contradictory responses to the same query, thus begging the question, which system, if any, can be trusted, and to what degree? It is clear that Catholic Artificial Intelligence systems must be built on a more trustworthy foundation. Providentially, immutable, censorship-proof blockchain-backed database technology offers a path for storing an official, authoritative, compendium of Catholic teachings that can be used to train Catholic AI. In this work we discuss software/algorithmic architectures that make use of blockchain backed databases that can be used to store official Catholic magisterium source material for LLMs. Considerations for test and evaluation protocols for these systems is also discussed. Historically the Church has employed technologies such as the papal ring for embossing wax/lead seals to verify the authenticity of papal bulls. Likewise, the concept of the imprimatur, nihil obstat, have been employed to try to mitigate the spread of counterfeit Gospel messages. However in a networked society featuring deep fakes, these measures are no longer sufficient. Technologies such as blockchain offer a path towards making a tamper proof, authoritative compendium of the Magisterium of the Church that could be queried by large language model for trustable Catholic responses.
Rachel MORIN (Catholic University of America) with Mary Aikins, Margaret McCaffrey, Francine Fernandes, Rachel Morin, David Ramirez] "Laudato Si’s Impact and Legacy on its 10th Anniversary"
Ten years ago, on the feast of Pentecost, Pope Francis signed an encyclical which would inspire not only Catholics but people from many walks of life to focus on the need for environmental protection. Laudato Si’ was written in response to the growing environmental crisis and collected many facets of the problem into a single document, discussing them in the context of faith and our role as stewards of creation. The document influenced the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21), which resulted in the famous Paris Agreement. On the ten-year anniversary of its publication, climate change is a global reality and the question of sustainability is embedded in the public consciousness. However, the multi-faceted issue poses current challenges that need to be overcome to realize the goals of the encyclical. The scale of these problems necessitates action at all levels, including international, local, and individual. We interviewed local leaders in sustainability to discuss current efforts and brainstorm potential solutions. Locally, Catholic University of America (CUA) is a signatory of the Laudato Si’ Action Plan, which was organized by the Vatican to implement the goals of the encyclical in the Church and in the world. In addition to discussing the historical context and impact of the encyclical, our poster will highlight CUA’s commitment to sustainability as well as providing tips and resources on how to live out the message of Laudato Si’ in both scientific research and personal life.
Justin PARK (International Space University, Pres. of Alumni Assoc.)
“The Cross on the Moon Coalition”
This initiative aims to consecrate the lunar surface with a sacrifice that personifies our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ. It will act as a testament of faith and a catalyst for hope as we move forward into the twenty-first century. This spiritually-driven project seeks to reinforce the bridge between science and religion by leveraging advancements in commercially available aerospace technology. The goal is to land this faith-based monument, a three meter cross, on the Moon where it will remain for generations. This mission not only represents a novel application of space exploration for cultural and spiritual purposes, but also serves as a case study in uniting Chistian communities under a shared vision of innovation and divine purpose.
Rachel PATTON (Dept. of Physics and Astronomy/Pittsburgh Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology Center (PITT PACC), University of Pittsburgh; postdoc) [co-authors Marc Pinsonneult and Todd Thompson]
“The Peculiar Structure of a Massive Stellar Merger”
The violent deaths of massive stars (Mstar > 8x Msun) influence most areas of research within astronomy, but knowing which stars explode and which collapse directly into black holes is actively debated. Whether a star explodes depends sensitively on its final core structure, and that core structure is influenced by the star’s evolutionary history. Many massive stars will interact with a gravitationally-bound stellar binary companion during their lifetime. Although the structural impact of other types of interactions have been studied extensively, the effects of binary mergers on stellar structure have not been explored in detail. We present the evolution, in 1D, of a massive binary which merges while the more massive star is progressing to advanced stages of evolution. We compare different methods for creating the merger product and show how the core structure of these merger products deviates significantly from that of single stars. We find that all merger products, regardless of merging method, produce stars which stay blue 50-60x longer than a single star, have core masses that are low compared to the total mass of the star, and have half the central core carbon abundance than that of a single star.
Nicholas RACKERS (Washington Univ. in St. Louis, PhD student in astrophysics)
“Simulations of Magnetar Magnetospheres”
Magnetars are hyper-magnetized neutron stars which are themselves hyperdense remnants of exploded massive stars. Their density is such that a single teaspoon weighs as much as Mount Everest; the intense gravity in the nearby space is only surpassed by black holes. Magnetars have a highly magnetized collisionless plasma “atmosphere”, where the dipole magnetic field is so strong it overpowers everything including gravity. Observationally, magnetars are characterized by energetic and frequent X-ray bursts. The particle interactions of plasma yielding these emissions compose a rich field of active research in high energy particle physics.
In this talk I will present methods of simulating the plasma surrounding magnetars. I will describe a model wherein the powerful dipole magnetic field is twisted up (similar to spinning a ball suspended with a collection of wires) thereby accelerating particles to energies high enough to emit the hardened X-ray spectra that our telescopes observe.
David RAMIREZ (Catholic University of America, Asst. Professor of Chemistry)
"Iterative chemical learning, chemical information, and scientific computing workflows using free and open-source software"
Abstract: Computer hardware commoditization has enabled the widespread access of computational power comparable to the fastest supercomputers from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite the exponential democratization of computing resources, such capabilities have yet to be harnessed by the majority of its users due to the complexity of both the software and the processes involved in the transformation of ideas into meaningful results. The situation is further exacerbated by the emphasis on maximizing short-term outcomes while minimizing initial effort, resulting in the development of unsustainable workflows and accumulation of technical debt. Within Chemistry, chemical simulation packages have pushed the boundaries of chemical modeling, but such tools remain foreign to most undergraduate students enrolled in chemistry courses. The learning environment fostered by the average undergraduate chemistry curricula also suffers from the drawbacks of focusing on fleeting efforts, whereby the knowledge gained in previous chapters and courses remains largely inaccessible in subsequent studies. Free and open-source software (FOSS) provides a viable path to empower undergraduate teaching as well as research in any field, including chemistry, by fostering the mindset of improvement by iteration. This presentation aims to introduce the audience to the current state of general FOSS amenable to handling chemical information and lower the barrier of entry into chemical computing regardless of technical fluency. Examples presented using LaTeX and Python will further demonstrate how these tools can be adapted for teaching various aspects and levels of chemistry, from introductory courses to cutting-edge research. Ultimately, this presentation seeks to display how integrating human ingenuity with FOSS not only can augment undergraduate education but also expand the horizons of what is possible in the chemical sciences.
Thomas SHEAHEN (ITEST)
“The Meaning of ‘Let’ in Genesis 1”
Within the first chapter of the Biblical book of Genesis, the word “Let” appears 11 times. It is hypothesized that each such occurrence indicates an intervention by God, a creative action. Each signifies an upward step, advancing from the initial “Let there be light” through consecutive stages of evolution, to the final “Let us make man… .” Genesis 1 thus is seen as a chronology of pointers to God’s active management of evolution. Why is this important? Setting aside the extremes of atheists and literal 6-day creationists, Christianity contains polarization among readers of Genesis 1. There is a considerable fraction of Christianity that perceives God as the Creator of each species individually; they will not permit a gradual evolution of vertebrates, hominids, and humans. At the other pole, there is a category who assert that God was so sophisticated a Creator that evolution could produce every development along the tree of life, from the earliest stars up to mankind (though Catholics believe that the human soul is directly created). However, it is argued by many that “deep time” is not deep enough for Darwinian evolution to produce the life we see, so something more is needed. Perhaps this hypothesis can help in advancing that investigation.
Kyle SHERBERT (Virginia Tech, postdoc; soon to be Holy Cross College, assistant professor)
“Toward adaptive pulse-level Variational Quantum Eigensolvers”
While the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) is a popular contender for solving molecular electronic states on near-term noisy quantum devices, typical gate-model ansatze for even moderate system sizes tend to result in circuit depth far exceeding the lifetime of present-day qubits. Our ctrl-VQE algorithm abandons the gate-model entirely, instead optimizing the amplitudes, frequencies, and phases of the physical control pulses used to directly manipulate qubit states. Preliminary results simulating transmon devices suggest evolution times can be reduced by several orders of magnitude. We elaborate on these results by comparing adaptive protocols for identifying the minimal number of parameters and pulse duration needed to prepare molecular ground states from a Hartree-Fock reference state.
Jean STAUNE (Ecole Polytechnique Fédéale de Lausanne)
“On the newly released book God, the Science, the Evidence.”
The recent book Dieu, la Science, les Preuves has been a sensation in France and has sold more than 200,000 copies there. It has just been released in English translation as God, the Science, the Evidence. This poster will talk about this book, its contents and the reception it has received, as well as science-faith initiatives in France and elsewhere connected with this book. 100 proof copies of the book will be available at the conference.
S. David STORM (Superfocus, AI Engineer)
“Gravitational Waves from Cosmic String Loops”
We examine the power spectrum and waveforms of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by oscillating cosmic string loops, which are theoretical topological defects formed in the early universe. The structure of cosmic string loops affects the signature of the GWs produced, and the signature aids in both discovering and classifying GW detections. We investigate the Garfinkle-Vachaspati loop, which has a planar rectangular form resembling a candidate for the end state of cosmic string loop processes which may be the dominant source of cosmic string GWs. We found that the power spectrum shape is slightly different than is often supposed and the consequences of this are discussed. Finally, we study and discuss when and how decay alters the waveforms of the gravitational radiation for these types of loops.
Peter ULRICKSON (Catholic University of America, Asst. Professor of Mathematics)
“Methuselah, Augustine, and the Infinite”
Obscurity is to be expected in Sacred Scripture, but what about outright mathematical contradiction? I will investigate a puzzle in the Old Latin (pre-Vulgate) Bible: Methuselah seems to live past the Flood, despite the fact that he did not board the Ark. I will present a new, astronomical, solution. My solution, while novel, involves only mathematics and science as known in late antiquity. As such, it is a solution that would be intelligible and of interest to Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome, all of whom are known to have considered this problem.
I will discuss M. Barnouin's investigation of patriarchal genealogy in Genesis by means of astronomical periods, and the consonance of his approach with mine. Further, I will relate my solution with Augustine's thought in two fundamental areas. One area is his treatment of time, particularly famous in Confessions XI but also of significance in The City of God. Another is his treatment of signs, especially as presented in On Christian Teaching.
To conclude, I will discuss the extent to which my approach to the Methuselah problem is in continuity with the symbolic mathematical thought of Nicholas of Cusa.
Candida USTINE (Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Magnetoencephalography Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, MEG Engineer)
“Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in Epilepsy Surgical Planning: A Noninvasive Window into Brain Activity”
Objective: To highlight the role of magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy patients and explain its clinical utility in localizing epileptogenic zones and functional mapping.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting over 50 million individuals worldwide. Approximately one-third of these patients are drug-resistant, with persistent seizures and significant impacts on daily life and cognitive function. For those with focal-onset, drug-resistant seizures, epilepsy surgery offers a potential cure or substantial improvement. Accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone is critical for successful surgical outcomes. MEG is a noninvasive neuroimaging technique that measures magnetic fields produced by neuronal activity in the brain. Utilizing highly sensitive superconducting sensors called SQUIDs, MEG captures these weak fields with high temporal and spatial resolution, enabling precise mapping of brain function. In presurgical evaluations, MEG is instrumental in recording abnormal neuronal activity, occurring between seizures, which is crucial for determining the epileptogenic zone. MEG guides the placement of intracranial electrodes (stereo EEG) for further monitoring, informs surgical resection planning, and assists in neurostimulator placement. Additionally. MEG can be utilized in the functional mapping of the eloquent cortex, such as motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language regions, aiding in the preservation of critical functions after surgery. Integrating MEG into the presurgical workflow, alongside structural imaging (MRI) and other functional data, significantly enhances the multidisciplinary assessment of epilepsy surgical candidates. MEG is especially valuable in cases with non-lesional MRI, discordant data across modalities, and within pediatric populations. Its ability to localize epileptogenic zones with high temporal resolution aids in surgical planning and can improve postoperative outcomes.
Keith A. VERNER and Keith VERNER (LabLearner, Schola Scientiae)
“The Human Experience Series: Integrating Faith and Scientific Inquiry in Middle School Classrooms”
The Human Experience Series (HES) is a new collection of interdisciplinary science units designed for Catholic schools. Each unit is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and integrates rigorous scientific investigation with Catholic theology, philosophy, and moral teaching. The first completed unit, Human Prenatal Development (HPD), focuses on human development from fertilization to birth. HPD is structured around four student-led investigations, covering DNA and chromosomes, meiosis and fertilization, first-trimester embryonic development, and placental function.
The program supports hands-on lab experiences, including clay modeling of fetal growth, filtration-based experiments simulating nutrient transfer across the placenta, and analysis of cell division. Alongside these labs, each investigation includes a theological extension—incorporating scripture, the Catechism, Theology of the Body, and virtue ethics—to deepen students’ understanding of the dignity and sacredness of human life from its earliest stages.
The structure of HPD allows students to explore scientific content through observation, reasoning, and experimentation, while also encouraging moral reflection grounded in Catholic teaching. This dual approach enables students to engage deeply with both the physical and spiritual dimensions of human life—supporting an integrated worldview in which faith and science are not in conflict, but in conversation.
This poster will outline the structure and educational philosophy behind the HES, with a special focus on the HPD unit. Visitors will be able to examine student materials, lab protocols, and theological reflection components. We invite collaboration, peer review, and future pilot partnerships with Catholic educators, theologians, and school leaders interested in helping shape this growing initiative.