Darrel R. Falk
American geneticist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darrel R. Falk (born 1946) is an American biologist. He is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University and is the past president and a current senior advisor with BioLogos Foundation,[1] an advocacy group that emphasizes compatibility between science and Christian faith.
Darrel R. Falk | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 (age 79–80) |
| Education | Simon Fraser University University of Alberta |
| Occupation | Professor of biology at Point Loma Nazarene University |
| Known for | Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biology |
| Institutions | University of British Columbia, UC Irvine, Syracuse University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Point Loma Nazarene University |
Education
Falk attended Simon Fraser University, originally planning to become a medical doctor. he graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1968 with a B.S. degree in biology.[2] He then completed his Ph.D. at the University of Alberta in 1973.[2]
Career and research
He did post-doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia (1973–74) and at the University of California at Irvine, California (1974–76).[2] He was an Assistant/Associate Professor at Syracuse University from 1976 to 1984. Then a professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Ohio from 1984 to 1988. Since 1988, he has been a professor at Point Loma Nazarene University.
His research interests have included molecular genetics of Drosophila melanogaster, organization of genes; and mechanism of repair of chromosome breaks.
Christian beliefs
Falk is a Christian and believes in theistic evolution.[3][4] He is the past president (2009-2012) of The BioLogos Foundation, founded by geneticist Francis Collins, which seeks to find "harmony between science and biblical faith" by advocating for "an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation".[5][6]
He has authored a book on the creation–evolution controversy titled Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology (InterVarsity Press, 2004), with a foreword by Collins. He has been critical of the intelligent design movement and written about the movement frequently on The BioLogos Foundation's website.[7]
In May 2025, Falk started a Substack addressing the fraught relationship between science and Evangelical Christianity, particularly in the context of the dismantling of science initiated in the early months of Trump's second presidency.[8] It began with a three-part series entitled "Challenging Times for Science in America."
Publications
- The Fool and the Heretic How Two Scientists Moved beyond Labels to a Christian Dialogue about Creation and Evolution (with Todd Charles Wood) (Zondervan Academic, 2019) ISBN 9780310595434
- Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology (InterVarsity Press, 2004)
- Affirming: The Brightening Lamp (with Arthur F. Seamans) (Point Loma Press, 2002) ISBN 0-9652698-6-8