‘equipping the church
on origins’

Our research

We maintain an active programme of research consistent with our aims and objectives. Our goal is to bring glory to God through high-quality, cutting-edge research that helps us to understand his creation better (Psalm 111:2). A Q&A explaining our overall approach to creation research can be read here.

For a fuller explanation of each research project, please click on the following links.

Current research projects

Heat problems associated with Genesis Flood models. This two-year project seeks to identify and to quantify the main sources of heat associated with the Genesis Flood. It involves a review of the relevant uniformitarian and creationist literature, plus scoping calculations. The results are intended to suggest ways in which excessive environmental temperatures might have been avoided and to indicate worthwhile follow-up topics.

Past research projects

A further attempt to detect discontinuity surrounding the Equidae, using a new dataset. This study applied statistical baraminology methods to a new dataset in a further attempt to determine whether the horse family (the Equidae) is a holobaramin.

Catastrophic subaqueous deposition of the Coconino Sandstone and its equivalents during Noah’s Flood, western USA. A five-year programme of research led by John Whitmore (Cedarville University) and sponsored by the Institute for Creation Research. This project involved extensive field studies, laboratory analyses and literature reviews in order to investigate the depositional environment of this rock unit.

Baraminological analysis of Jurassic and Cretaceous Avialae. A statistical study of fossil birds and dinosaurs aimed at determining their baraminological status and relationships. This was a collaboration with Todd Wood (Bryan College) and Marcus Ross (Liberty University).

Detecting discontinuity in the Dinosauria using baraminic distance correlation. A statistical baraminology study that began the task of identifying the created dinosaur kinds. This project was carried out in conjunction with Todd Wood (Bryan College) and Marcus Ross (Liberty University).

Baraminological analysis of the Picidae (Vertebrata: Aves: Piciformes) and implications for creationist design arguments. This study sought to apply statistical methods to a morphological dataset of members of the woodpecker family and some other birds in order to determine their baraminological relationships. A review of hybridization data was also undertaken.

Christian perspectives on the origin of species. This project reviewed the range of views held by Christian scholars, both pre- and post-Darwin, and from both “variationist” and “species stasis” perspectives. A collaboration with Todd Wood (Bryan College).

Criteria for identifying the pre-Flood/Flood and Flood/post-Flood boundaries in the rock record. This was a joint project with John Whitmore (Cedarville University), setting out a new method that could be used to identify the Flood boundaries using multiple criteria and seeking to apply the method to the stratigraphic record in Wyoming, USA.

Is the Equidae a holobaramin? This project applied the methods of statistical baraminology to a morphological dataset in an attempt to shed some light on the taxonomic status of Hyracotherium, a fossil animal that may represent the ancestral “ark” horse.