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
Earth

Is the earth unique and special, or is it just one of many similar habitable planets scattered across the universe?
Children Kids Topic
The Seven C’s

The Seven C’s of history—Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation—tell the true history of earth as recorded in the Bible.
Topic
Ape-Man

Can man’s ancestry be traced back to an ape-like ancestor? How much do we really have in common with primates? Have fossil ape-men been found?
Study Guide
Life in the Great Ice Age

In this colorful novel, your whole family will learn what life was like during the Ice Age after the Flood. Packed full of scientific facts that can be used to defend creation and the Flood, and oppose evolution. Read through this book as a devotional with your children!
Topic
Microbiology

The fascinating study of microbiology reveals the unbelievable diversity of microscopic organisms—some that even dwell in toxic sea vents and the Dead Sea!
Biography
Tony Brown

Tony is a missionary/evangelist to those caught in New Religious Movements, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.
Topic
Biblia

¿Será la Biblia simplemente un libro anticuado empolvado de contradicciones y mitos, o es la revelación verdadera de la historia del Dios omnisciente?
Landing Page
Medios
Page
Loading Your Cart
Topic
Testimonies

Every week we receive encouraging testimonies from dozens of people who have been blessed and touched by God through the ministry of Answers in Genesis.
Page
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The Fossils Hall in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. includes many real dinosaur fossils—not copies—on display.
Topic
Cloning

A clone is a genetically identical copy of a living organism. What about cloning humans? Should Christians view the cloning of animals differently than humans?
Page
Perú
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?
College
Dayspring Bible College
Page
Map and directions

Map and directions to Creation Museum and AiG–U.S. headquarters
Page
FAQ for ABC 1st Edition

Frequently asked questions about Answers Bible Curriculum (ABC) 1st edition.
Video Collection
Creation Videos
Topic
How Are Fossils Formed?

Do fossils really require millions of years to form? The evidence shouts no! A lot of water and a little bit of time rapidly laid down the fossil record.
Biography
Dr. Jack Cuozzo
Topic
Primordial Soup

In a quiet pond somewhere on early earth, the many complex chemicals necessary for life came together to produce the first living cell—or did they?
Topic
Catastrophism

Are current, slow geologic processes the key to understanding earth’s past, or was history marked by a global, earth-shaping catastrophe?
Video
Ken Ham’s Personal Testimony, A Fire in My Bones

Ken Ham shares his burden for Christian apologetics beginning from the very first verse of Scripture.
Children Kids Topic
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science that deals with the heavens, the stars, the planets, the moon and the sun. Astronomy shows God’s glory and strength!