Seeing GOD Through STEM

(Bloomington, Indiana: WestBow Press, 2023). ISBN 9798385002801 (Print), 9798385002818 (Ebook). 100 pages. Softcover, US$14.99; E-book, US$5.99. To order this book, click here.

Seeing GOD Through STEM is a collection of short devotionals written by Ophelia M. Barizo, a retired STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) educator and consultant. A nationally certified STEM educator through the National Institute of STEM Education (NISE), Barizo has served as STEM coordinator for the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Columbia, Maryland, U.S.A., and in several other roles. In addition to being the recipient of numerous awards, she also served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A. This collection of 35 devotionals interweaves lessons from the STEM fields with messages about God and lessons we can learn about Him. Students and educators alike will find their faith strengthened through these short and compelling readings.

The 35 devotionals follow a similar pattern throughout the book. Each has an attention-grabbing title like “Biobullies: Alien Invaders” and “Mind Controlled Prosthetics.” Next is a Bible verse, which outlines and sets the tone for the entry. The verse is followed by the devotional. Devotionals include personal stories, historical events, scientific facts, and biblical stories. This initial story flows seamlessly into a religious message and ends with Barizo’s main takeaway. The devotionals conclude with a prayer connected to the main topic. Each devotional includes at least one picture and is under three pages.

Barizo explains her goal in the preface: The devotionals will integrate faith and learning with the goal that they will draw students closer to their Creator. I felt my faith strengthened, and I believe that students and teachers will find themselves similarly affected. Barizo is incredibly successful in her connections between science and religion. Too often, people believe that science and religion are different sides of a battle, whereas, in reality, science points to the existence and love of God. Barizo’s smooth transitions and choice of lessons from science will open the eyes of students and reveal new wonders about the Creator.

Seeing GOD Through STEM is most successful when the author tells personal stories.

Barizo pairs her personal stories with personal pictures. They connect with the story and offer a deeper understanding of the message. An excellent example is the devotional “The Wondrous Proton.” Here, Barizo tells the story of her battle with sarcoma cancer and explains the scientific procedures that helped eradicate her cancer. The devotional is accompanied by a picture of Barizo at her treatment, which leads to the concluding point of the power of God’s healing. The author is an excellent storyteller, and at times, you feel you are seeing her inner thoughts or reading her diary. The personal connection elevates this book above like devotionals.

I recommend this book to educators across all our elementary, middle, and high schools.

Elementary school teachers will find this book to be an excellent opening devotional for a science or religion class. The devotionals are short enough to retain a student’s attention span, while also being long enough to teach a lesson. With the older grades, students could even be asked to read the prayer, in order to promote student involvement and personal connections. For middle and high school students, this book is also excellent for devotionals and a good book to recommend to students to read on their own time. The devotionals encourage students to pursue STEM, which is an important tool at a time when students may struggle with self-esteem in different subjects and start to brainstorm future career choices. This book will be valuable in any of our Seventh-day Adventist classrooms.

Educators will also find that this book makes an excellent choice for their own devotions.

Some of the stories are tailored more toward an educator audience. “The Science of Crime” and “Origami Magic” are chapters with messages directly aimed at encouraging and supporting teachers of all levels.

This book is excellent for educators and classrooms as it applies to many curriculum areas. Many different STEM paths are mentioned, including geometry, aerospace engineering, robotics, and physics, to name a few. Subjects outside of STEM are also applied, such as history, art, and religion. This book could serve to make cross-curriculum connections. For example, science and art classes can be connected through devotionals like “Origami Magic.” The book also lends itself to combining science and art projects. For example, students can learn about, and then test, building robots or creating slime while strengthening their walk with God.

While this book is an asset in the classroom, there are points that educators should know before using this book as an educational tool. Barizo, in most devotionals, provides definitions for most scientific terms included. Some terms are missed, however, so teachers would be wise to read ahead and prepare definitions for terms they believe may be unfamiliar to their students. I recommend that teachers pre-read for any content that may not be appropriate for their specific audience. The book is, at the moment, culturally relevant. For example, Barizo makes references to the COVID-19 pandemic and Barbie (the movie). However, as the years go on, these references may be less prevalent, and teachers must re-evaluate their effectiveness.

Seeing God Through STEM is a compelling, well-written book by a respected and successful Adventist educator. It holds a deep value for educators at all levels and subjects. This book has heart and knowledge and will draw readers into a deeper relationship with their Creator. While there is always room for improvements, such as including STEM activities or an index sorting devotionals by their inclusion of different STEM topics, the author accomplishes and exceeds the goals she sets out. Considering all this, I highly recommend this book to educators for use in their classrooms. In a world where science and religion seem to be frequently placed at odds, Seeing GOD Through STEM shows educators and students how God’s greatness and love are shown in the world around us and that STEM subjects are a vital part of God’s plan.

Bianca Loss

Bianca Loss is an elementary education major at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A. She currently serves as co-pastor for the Education, Learning, and Teaching Club at Andrews. On school breaks, she works as a substitute teacher, teacher’s aide (general population and special education), and a 1:1 (one-on-one aide) in the Sutton Public Schools system in Sutton, Massachusetts, U.S.A..