Dr. Jennifer Hall Rivera

Director of Educational Programs, Speaker and Author

The field of forensics has grown far beyond catching criminals by finding their fingerprints or footprints at crime scenes, techniques first popularized in Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries 100-plus years ago. Over the decades, investigative advancements in forensics have made significant progress and solved untold numbers of crimes. They have become a part of popular culture, including various TV programs.

Recognizing how the field of forensics can be applied to apologetics, Dr. Jennifer Rivera leads popular hands-on forensics programs at AiG’s attractions as the Director of Educational Programs. In addition to over 15 years of teaching experience in the sciences, Dr. Rivera holds an education doctorate in curriculum and instruction, an MAT with a science concentration, and a BA in criminal justice, with hundreds of training hours in the forensic disciplines. Dr. Rivera used to work in a crime scene unit in southern Florida (no, it wasn’t of CSI: Miami TV fame!) and has had multiple speaking engagements for the International Association for Identification, the largest organization for crime scene personnel.

Today, Dr. Rivera declares she’s thrilled to educate children, teens, and adults as she presents “the truth of God’s Word using science, showing how science confirms the Bible.” In addition, she leads Explore Jr., Explore Days and Exploration. These are hands-on programs (for ages 5–10, 11–18, and 18+) at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. Dr. Rivera also presents free Discover programs for daily guests at the museum. Topics include forensic fingerprint basics, forensic DNA fingerprinting, forensic hair analysis, and more. Dr. Rivera directs and teaches high school labs, such as the popular High School Lab Forensic Science program, in the new state-of-the-art laboratory at the Ark Encounter and in the lab at the Creation Museum.

Dr. Rivera’s writings include the book Work of Your Hand: Fingerprints, God, and You!, a high school textbook titled Intro to Forensic Science from a Biblical Worldview, and articles in professional journals.

On days when Dr. Rivera is not hard at work teaching or writing, she enjoys hiking and traveling.

Fun Facts

Favorite verse: Proverbs 3:5–6
Favorite forensic show on TV: Forensic Files
Food she most misses in southern Florida: Authentic Cuban cuisine
Most unusual vacation: The Arctic Circle of Alaska with her daughter; they saw the Northern Lights, went dogsledding, etc.
How she first connected to AiG: Watching a video of Ken Ham
Favorite book (excluding the Bible): Lord of the Rings trilogy

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Latest Articles by Dr. Jennifer Hall Rivera

Topic
Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens violently erupted on May 18, 1980, rapidly dispelling many false long-age notions about the formation of canyons, rock layers, and coal.
Book
Why Won’t They Listen?

This revolutionary book has already opened the eyes of thousands of Christians showing why the traditional methods of evangelism are not reaching today’s humanistic, evolutionized culture. By applying proven soul-winning methods as found in the Scriptures, this book will revolutionize your witnessing. Why not encourage your pastors to read it too?
Is Anyone out There?

Among the innumerable galaxies of our universe are various planets, some similar in shape and size to Earth. Could some of these distant planets harbor life?
Biography
Karina Altman

Karina Altman is the Zoo Content Manager at Answers in Genesis. She earned a BS in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University and an MA in biology from Miami University.
If God Doesn’t Matter to Him, Do You?

There are consequences to the unquestioned evolutionary belief of humans as mere products of survival of the fittest, rather than beings made in God’s image.
Children Kids Topic
Archaeology
Children Kids Topic
Bible Questions

Ever wondered who was Cain’s wife or where the Bible came from? Everyone has questions about the Bible, and these questions do have answers!
Book
Did God Use Evolution?

According to the view of theistic evolution, God started the process of evolution and guided and steered it over millions of years. As an information scientist, Werner Gitt critically analyzes and rejects the assumptions and consequences of the doctrine of theistic evolution.
Topic
Creation Myths

Numerous cultures across the globe contain myths and legends relating to the creation of the world.
Page
Map and directions

Map and directions to Creation Museum and AiG–U.S. headquarters
Topic
Education in America

What is the current climate of education in America? Is there room for differing ideas, or is education simply a one-way street paved with evolution?
Biography
Paul F. Taylor
Topic
Human Genome

The exhaustive project of mapping the human genome has provided further evidence of biblical truths as presented in Genesis.
Book
In the Beginning Was Information

Between the covers of this excellent book may well be the most devastating scientific argument against the idea that life could form by natural processes.
Children Kids Topic
Geology

While many people think that the rock layers are evidence of an old earth, the Bible’s history and the rocks say that they are young.
Ussher’s Time Line for the Divided Kingdom

The time line for the divided kingdom has caused many problems recently for those who do not take the Bible as their final authority.
Magazine Department
Subscriber Exclusives

from Answers Magazine
Blog
Archive for Sunday School Blog

Read all the posts from the Sunday School blog in this archive.
A Designer Is Unscientific—Even If All the Evidence Supports One!

Even if all the evidence supports a designer, such a hypothesis must be excluded!
Book
In Six Days

Can any scientist with a Ph.D. believe in the idea of a literal six-day creation? In Six Days answers this provocative question with 50 informative essays by scientists who say “Yes!”
Page
Answers VBS Testimonials
Topic
Neanderthal

Neanderthals are often treated as subhuman despite having all the hallmarks of full humanity. Except a few skeletal variances, they were very similar to us.
Topic
Speciation

Speciation, the formation of new species, is not evolution in action. Rather, it demonstrates the incredible variety God put within each created kind.
Topic
Cain

One of the most asked questions by skeptics and Christians alike is, “Where did Cain get his wife?” Genesis provides the simple answer!