At the College of Life Sciences’ Faith and Science Seminar on September 11, students were spiritually uplifted by Dr. Brad Berges from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology and Dr. Neil Hansen from the Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, who shared how their individual faith journeys have been deeply intertwined with their professional careers. As winners of the College’s Spiritually Strengthening Award, both professors highlighted the ways spiritual conviction has guided their work and shaped their teaching.
Faith and Fly Fishing
Berges focused his presentation on one of his favorite hobbies, fly fishing, as a parallel for sharing the gospel. He started off by explaining the technical aspects of fly fishing, including casting different types of artificial flies into the water, mending the line, using polarized glasses to see the fish in the water, and understanding their swimming patterns. Through this discussion he emphasized the importance of reading the scriptures and living the gospel to effectively share it with others and tied his remarks to the Savior who is the perfect example of loving unconditionally and reaching each individual where they’re at.
Berges connected this principle to his own life, sharing examples of people who joined the church after someone shared the gospel with them, including his parents. “I am the product of missionaries knocking on doors and introducing my family to the gospel,” he says. “My parents are my heroes because they were the fish that saw that fly going by and took it.” Showing a photo of his family, he testified of what a blessing the gospel has been in his life and the lives of four generations of his family.
Interweaving the gospel into his science courses, Berges developed Faith Fridays where he spends the first part of class on Fridays talking about the teachings of modern-day prophets. Through example and practice, he invites his students to strengthen their faith while pursuing their studies.
Discovery Through Deity
Hansen began his remarks by quoting a core principle of learning at BYU: “Belief enhances inquiry, study amplifies faith, and revelation leads to a deeper understanding.” He reflected on this principle as he recounted his own journey to becoming a professor. As a young student, Hansen worked with a BYU professor named Dr. Jolly, whom he described as “a person of faith—a person who lived his witness of the Savior.”
Hansen shared an experience from his early years in research when he observed how the genetic mechanisms of plants allow them to adapt and survive in incredible ways. While conducting experiments, he learned that through prayer and study he could receive revelation to guide his research. “When we combine belief and study together, these open the door for personal revelation. This revelation, in turn, provides a deeper, more profound understanding of truth that could not be gained by study alone,” Hansen explains. Now, as a faculty member, he strives to pass this onto his students, who in turn feel inspired by both the science and the faith he shares.
One grad student, Cade Seely (MS ‘26, PWS), who has worked with Hansen says, “I think the spiritual connection between Dr. Hansen’s work and being inspired to do things…is a very faith-based effort.”
Faith-Building Impact
Both Berges and Hansen exemplify the purpose of the Spiritually Strengthening Award: to honor faculty who not only excel in their academic fields but also build faith in those around them. Whether through the metaphor of fly fishing or the awe of scientific discovery, both professors remind their students that inquiry and faith go hand in hand and that the gospel can deepen our understanding in every discipline.
