Middle school science teacher An Cao wanted to teach his students about the science heroes of the past, such as
Gregor Mendel, who is recognized for his groundbreaking work in the field of
genetics. But besides a love of science, Mendel and Cao's students have
something else in common: their Catholic faith.
Every day during Faith and Science Week
at St. Ambrose School in Annandale, Cao introduced the students to a different Catholic
or Christian scientist, such as Blessed Nicolas Steno, a Danish bishop known
for his work in anatomy and geology, or Father George Lemaitre, the originator
of the Big Bang theory. The scientist of the day and other fun facts about
science flashed on a screen in the school hallway.
“All week, the students have been
fixated by this,” said Principal Angela Rowley. “The teachers, too.”
The week culminated April 5 with a
Jeopardy-style game about faith and science. In addition to questions about the
science heroes, students were asked which continent has the smallest land mass
(Australia), what’s the center of an atom (the nucleus) and how many of each
animal came on Moses’ Ark? (Trick question — it was Noah’s Ark.) Students
frantically consulted with their teammates about the correct answers and clapped
when they got it right. The famous Jeopardy jingle and other familiar sound
effects added to the game.
Cao, an electrical engineer by trade,
hoped the week would change the perception that people of faith don’t believe
in science. He also wanted to reinforce that science, while crucial, can’t tell
the whole story. “Truth isn’t limited to science,” he said.
Cao finished the event with a “lab,”
giving each student a piece of paper. He instructed them to carefully fold the
paper into certain shapes with each fold representing the way people carefully
plans their own lives. He then told the students to rip the paper lengthwise,
representing God asking us to change our plans. The ripped paper unfolded into
a cross.
“Write down (on the cross), ‘Jesus, I
trust in you,’ ” he told the students. “Because at some point in your life,
reason and science (isn’t) going to cut it. All you have is faith.”