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
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.
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!
Children Kids Topic
Animals

God created earth full of life: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, creepy crawlies and dinosaurs. These incredible animals all show God’s creativity!
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.
Children Kids Topic
Angels

When did God create angels? What about Satan? When was he created and when did he fall?
Page
Mystic Aquarium

Witness first-hand some of God´s most amazing creatures, from cute beluga whales (which you can actually touch) to deadly poison dart frogs.
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Răspunsuri din Genesa
Children Kids Topic
The Gospel

Gospel means “good news,” and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is very good news for everyone!
Children Kids Topic
Fish

From the bright tropical fish of the coral reefs to the fierce sharks patrolling the open ocean, the fish in our oceans show God’s design.
Children Kids Topic
Archaeology
Lucy: Did She Walk Like Us?

Lucy is hailed as a missing link in our evolutionary lineage from ape-like ancestors. Did Lucy walk like us or does the evidence show her as a tree-dweller?
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!”
Children Kids Topic
Alien Life

Science fiction has popularized the idea that—somewhere in space—ETs, aliens, and UFOs thrive. Do the Bible and the evidence support this notion?
Biography
Calvin Smith

Calvin is Executive Director of Answers in Genesis–Canada and has spoken at church conferences across Canada (and sometimes internationally) on creation apologetics for over 20 years.
Store Category-Subcategory
Topics & Themed

Purchase resources on topics including dinosaurs, Noah’s Ark, creation museum, seven C’s, and more.
Kids Book
Aquarium Guide

With fun facts about more than 100 animals, this long-awaited Aquarium Guide includes beautiful pictures and reveals the incredible facts and design features that point to our amazing Creator. This handy size guide is excellent for school field trips and family trips to your favorite aquarium!
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
The New Answers Book 1

The New Answers Book 1 is packed with biblical answers to over 25 of the most important questions on creation/evolution and the Bible.
Children Kids Justin and Jessie Chapter
Matt’s Dino Mix-Up

from Justin & Jessie
“Let’s be dinosaurs!” Matt shouted. But he believes the story about dinosaurs evolving over millions of years. How will he learn the truth about dinosaurs?
Blog
Archive for Sunday School Blog

Read all the posts from the Sunday School blog in this archive.
Topic
Types of Dinosaurs

Triceratops to T. rex, the many types of dinosaurs exhibit a great deal of variety. The design of these great reptiles calls out for a Creator.
Topic
Design in Nature

Gecko feet, bat wings, and horse leg bones are among many structures that defy evolution. Design implies a Designer, and life certainly looks designed!
Page
Tools for Teaching

Tools for Teaching is a multi-volume series that gives you, the instructor, personal training by one of the world’s most renowned creation speakers.
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.