Computational and Applied Theology

Recently I was at a presentation given by a guy who does chastity talks to high school students around the country. He was throwing out the standard statistics about how effective various types of "safe-sex" devices are. I have heard this story countless time before, but this time was different. I had recently been studying various types of agent-based models and I said to myself, "this is a great opportunity to actually start a engineering/science ministry in Catholism." I have been trying to figure out a way to make that work for years, but to no avail. Globalisation has made social justice issues very complex. I have looked over various encyclicals that talk about social justice. I always get frustrated because the principles they throw out seem self-contradictory at times. Furthermore it is totally unclear how to apply many of those ideas. Being a Catholic I am used to dealing with things that appear to be paradoxes, so I don't give up, I just know I need to dig deeper. Given the challenges we are facing with the HSS mandates and health care in general I think it is past time Lay Catholics start generating real solutions to the social justice problems facing the world. I feel there was a time when Catholics were at the forefront of academy. I also feel that time is no longer with us in most fields. It doesn't have to be this way and it shouldn't. It's time Catholics started looking at some of these complex social justice problems ( e.g. immigration, resource allocation, healthcare, developing world, chastity, evangelization) were examined under the "algorithmic lens" so to speak. I have done a little bit of literature review and I have not seen too much from Catholic academia that tries to address these problems. I found one Catholic think tank in Washington DC, but they seem to be more focused on philosophy. This is my first attempt to do it.

(If you want to learn about the "algorithmic lens" I suggest you see this presentation:
The Algorithmic Lens: How the Computational Perspective is Transforming the Sciences
March 1, 2009
Presentation by Christos Papadimitriou, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, UC Berkeley, CA.
http://www.scivee.tv/node/10204
)

I am seriously considering putting together a preliminary agent-based model of STD infection in an American High School. Actually I already started it (See screenshot above). My thought is this could start to get scaled up to work out non-contraceptive techniques for mitigating the spread of AIDS in Africa. My thought is I could put together in preliminary results in a poster that I could show at the annual Catholic Medical Association conference.
Abstracts are due Aug 3, 2012 so I have a deadline. I have the pleasure of knowing some guys that are pretty active in their CMA guilds so hopefully I can find some Infectious disease experts to help continue this work. Here is the CMA website if you want more info.

http://www.cathmed.org/events/annual_educational_conference/poster_session/

From CMA:

Poster Session

Call for Abstracts!

What: Poster presentations of scientific or theological topics of interest to Catholic physicians. Must be original work and not previously published or submitted for publication. Author must be present.

Limits: 3 abstracts per author

• Theological abstracts: 150 words
• Scientific abstracts: 250 words

Deadline: August 3, 2012

Submit by email: LQ@cathmed.org

Maybe we can find some other problems to begin addressing as well. I also happen to be in a place with a fairly active Catholic community with alot of guys who know how to run models. It might be a good place to get started.

Our Man-Dog-Dolphin Alliance to Restore a Feeling of Playfulness and Harmony to the lives of Visually-Imparied Dogs and their Companions

I want you to meet my friend Chris and his loyal companion Moose the dog. I have seen Moose multiple times when I have visited Chris' house. He is a very warm and affectionate dog. He would be so happy to meet you so he could jump on you and give you a big, wet kiss. Chris and Moose have shared many special moments together. Unfortunately, life being what is is, threw Moose a curveball. Moose the dog went blind. Now Moose has a good attitude on life. He has not let this make him depressed. He just goes on living his life for the moment making the best of his situation. He is just happy to give and receive affection whenever he can. He likes eating too :-).

Chris accepts the current situation, but he wishes there was more he could do for his buddy Moose. The other day Chris was telling me stories about Moose. He said that Moose learns a map of their house in his head so he can learn to get around fairly well. The problem is every once in awhile Moose will get a little disoriented and he will run head-on into a wall at full speed. I've seen him do it. It looks painful. Also, if people move the furniture it causes a conflict with Moose's internal map. As a result he will sometimes run into chairs. When Chris told me Moose's story my heart and mind were moved. Recently I had heard a story about a blind man who had learned to in some sense "see" using echolocation like a dolphin. Then the thought struck me! Moose is smart!!! Why can't Moose learn to act like a dolphin? I got really excited by the idea and started doing some research so we could help Moose.


Man, Dolphin and Dog all can share a special friendship centred on playfullnes and joy. It really defies explanation. I think this video captures a great example of it.



Chris, Moose, and I have since decided to embark on a quest to help Moose embrace the "Spirit of the Dolphin." Our hope is that we learn from the dolphin so Moose can spread joy wherever he goes without having to worry about running into chairs and walls. We are going to keep a chronicle our adventures in the hope that the lessons we learn can be applied by lively, happy dogs around the globe. We are really excited by this new project. I hope you will stay tuned...

The Heart of a Whale

Last night I decided it was time to get back to work so I welded up this art project I call, "The heart of a whale." It is dedicated to my little brother who went to the hospital last week. He gave me the inspiration to keep on welding in the late hours of the night. Here is the creation of heart of a whale. I hope you enjoy it.


It all started with some cardboard I took from a box of microwavable burritos.


Then I made a blueprint. Then I just let it happen.

Planting the Farm 2012

In anticipation of setting up my surfing art commune with robot farming I decided to continue practising the farming part. Here are some good photos of getting the farm planted with my roomates. I am pretty hopeful for this year.


Getting the tools ready for tilling.
Xiang planting
Killing some weeds
Me tilling the earth.
Nice rows
The dog is supervising
I think he approves.

Jacob's School Art

A few months ago I was back at UCSD and I noticed a house landed on the 6th floor of the Jacob School of engineering.



View from the Price center.



Engineering courtyard



6th floor administrative offices.