In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with my good friend Dr. Dennis Chamberland. Dennis is an explorer, author, bio-engineer, award winning nuclear engineer, space life scientist and aquanaut. Dennis was a design engineer at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center for Advanced Space Life Support Systems being considered for Moon and Mars bases. During his 30-year distinguished career at NASA, Dennis was privileged to apply his skills to the NASA Safety Organization, as an Operational Safety Specialist for the space shuttle orbiter fleet. While at KSC, Dennis also managed NASA scientific medical and environmental contracts. He sat as the Chairman of the NASA Kennedy Space Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for 14 years, where he acted as a NASA representative on several Agency biomedical ethics review boards. Dennis also published the 1986 groundbreaking cover story on the bioethics of genetic engineering in Christianity Today.
He is the chief architect, design engineer and builder of several undersea habitats, including NASA’s Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station. Dennis served as the NASA Mission Commander for 14 undersea missions and is the author of the seminal and visionary work Undersea Colonies. He is widely considered the world’s leading professional in permanent undersea colonization. Dennis also joined a NASA grant team in 2018-2019 to design and build a Mars Colony for the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center near Corning, New York, participating in all phases of the design, construction, and implementation. Dennis is also the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Nuclear Professional of the Year Award from the International Atomic Energy Agency. He is the author of over 100 technical and scientific publications as well as 26 books.
Dennis and I had a great conversation about science, faith, space travel, and living on Mars. Being a scientist and a person of faith, Dennis shared the importance of both and the “benchmark” that holds both of them in place. Together we explored the contemporary landscape of the science vs. religion debate and how neither needs to be in conflict with the other. We wrap things up with a conversation about science and liminality, space travel, living on Mars, and a Martian washing machine. Throughout the conversation, Dennis shares his deep faith, rich scientific knowledge, and humor. I hope you enjoy it!
Learn more: http://dennischamberland.com
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Liminal Theology 