Faith and Science Presentation

On June 25, 2026, I attended a presentation by Dr. Kate Bulinski, Professor of Environmental Science at Bellermine University who talked about Faith and Science as part of the Theology on Tap Summer Speaker Series. It was a well attended talk after the group had a nice dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Albany, Indiana, USA.

I learned about Nicolas Steno (1638-1686) who is considered the "Father of Stratigraphy" and how he identified fossil shark teeth. Also she talked about an upcoming event November 15, 2026, Gold Mass for Faith and Science featuring a lecture from Brother Guy Consolmagno of the Vatican Observatory. I attended one of his lectures years ago at Southeast Christian Church about science and religion where he signed one of his books on astronomy I had brought.

Dr. Bulinski talked about relationship between science and Catholicism. She identified an number of famous Catholic scientists and their contributions in her presentation. The event ended with a question and and answer session where one question was what was her favorite fossil. She replied, edrioasteroid which are found in the Ordovician rock around the Cincinnati, Ohio, USA area where she went to university and studied paleontology/geology for a Ph.D. 

I remember when Kate started teaching at Bellermine around 2008 or 2009. I was an officer in the KYANA Geological Society and contacted her about giving a presentation at one of the meetings which she graciously did. 

Her research around the Louisville area involves workshops for K-12 teachers involving Waldron Shale fossils and study of the paleo-ecology of Devonian Coral fossil reef found at the Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana USA.

Drymopora auloporoidea Coral Fossil

 

This fossil appears to be a Drymopora auloporoidea (Davis, 1885). It was found in the Devonian Period layer of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The fossil was from the collection of James Conkin.

First named in the 1885 publication Kentucky Fossil Corals A Monograh of the Fossil Corals of the Silurian and Devonian Rocks of Kentucky by William J. Davis.

 

Productid Brachiopod Fossil

 

This brachiopod Productid was part of the James Conkin collection. It was found in Larue County, Kentucky, USA in the St. Louis Formation. 

The label might not be quite right as it looks like something that might be from the New Albany Shale. 

 

 

Red Ammonoid Fossil

I returned to St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church located at East Eighth and Spring Streets, New Albany Indiana, USA. The fossil appears in the floor of the church alter area has strips of Red Verona or Rosso Verona marble in it. This rock dates to the Upper Jurassic Period of the Rosso Ammonitico Formation, Oxfordian Stage, Verona Province, Venetia Region of Italy.

 

In a previous post, I listed that the building was dedicated on December 12, 1858 primarily serving the German-speaking immigrants of the area. In the 1920s, renovations brought Carrara Italian marble to the alters, communion rail, sanctuary floor, baptismal font and wainscoting.  

 Sadly, my visit there was for the funeral of my Aunt Ruth Popp (1934-2026). May she rest in peace. 

Redwood Fossil

 

Here are pictures of a piece of petrified redwood found in Wahoe County, Nevada USA. It dates to the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

Yellow Birch Wood Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified yellow Birch wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

 

Thanks to Kenny for the pictures. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Petrified Wood Fossil of Texas

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Petrified Wood Fossil found in Texas

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Texas Petrified Wood Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Devonian Fish Bone Fossils

 

These pictures are of a somewhat unique and rare fossil found in the Louisville Kentucky USA area. The almost fossil bare New Albany Shale sometimes reveals a blue material that are the fish bone remains from the late Devonian Period. These fossils were found in the Blocher Formation of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The main pieces is about 2 cm in length. 

The fossils once belonged to Barbara Conkin(1928-2019) who taught geology at Jefferson Community College. Thanks to Kenny for taking these pictures.

 

Meristella maria Brachiopod Fossil

Imprint remains of fossilized brachiopod called Meristella maria (Hall, 1863). James Hall renamed the genus Meristina (Hall, 1867). These animals lived in the Middle Silurian Period.  Fossils found in the Osgood Shale of  Napoleon, Indiana USA.

 

Holocystites gyrinus Cystoid Fossil

This fossil which appears to be a Holocystites gyrinus (Miller & Gurley, 1894) cystoid was found in Napoleon, Indiana USA. It dates to the Silurian Period  (Telychian to Sheinwoodian stage) in age. The locality is world famous for this type of fossil. It was found in the Massie Formation or Osgood Shale.