Here’s how my faith supports my Scientific career

Six Black scientists share their testimonies of working in the field of science

ARCHBISHOP DOYE AGAMA: Retired
My journey through marine telecommunications engineering, digital transformation leadership, and Christian ministry has been unified by a single insight: God creates and sustains through systems of relationships.

In engineering, I learned a lot about the reliance of the whole on the correct functioning of what could look like less significant parts. I gained a greater respect for nature, as I studied how corporate and global telecommunications systems are used to create and sustain value. This technical understanding affected my theology. The biblical creation narrative revealed that God created interconnected systems, where each element also creates value, that then sustains the others as a divine design. 

Leading digital transformation projects, I have applied this faith-informed systems thinking practically. I typically examine six interconnected elements, including system connections, feedback loop insights, and visual relationships mapping for better decisions. This helps organisations avoid the common mistake of optimising individual processes while inadvertently damaging the broader ecosystem. Instead, we can seek to always strengthen the whole.

My Christian faith teaches me that creation itself is God’s first revelation. Flourishing comes not just from isolation for perfection of function, but even more from relationships that generate mutual value. This biblical wisdom has made me a better engineer, pastor, and transformation leader.

NASYA BURKE: AI Marketing Specialist
Senior Partnerships Lead for EMEA at Smartly.io, a leading AI company. Passionate about the creative arts, she also serves the body of Christ in worship ministry. 

In some Black Pentecostal circles, science and tech (especially AI) are met with suspicion. Too rational. Too worldly. Too detached from the Spirit. But that view limits what God can do through us in every domain of life, including technology. Furthermore, I believe in addition to being in the pews, we are to be in the marketplace, in the boardroom, and in the lab.

As someone who shapes how AI products are positioned and brought to market, I see the urgency of this work. These technologies are shaping economies, culture and identity. If people of faith – especially from the Black Pentecostal tradition – aren’t at the table, we’re leaving our communities unprotected and unseen.

This isn’t about replacing God with machines; it’s about bringing a Spirit-led imagination to the technology shaping tomorrow. 

DR SHAVEL SILVERA: Medical Doctor
A doctor with a keen interest in Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Passionate about mentorship, she actively volunteers to guide and teach future medical professionals. Dr. Silvera is a committed Christian. 

As a doctor, I see science and faith as complementary aspects of my job – both of equal importance. Science provides the tools and knowledge to diagnose and treat patients, grounded in research, evidence and continual discovery. Faith, however, offers a deeper framework for understanding the person behind the diagnosis, reminding me that every patient is a human and not a statistic. Faith inspires compassion, respect and a commitment to healing that goes beyond physical care. I believe faith and science both seek truth: science explores how the world works, while faith helps us ask why it matters. Many scientific pioneers were also people of deep faith, and I see my role as a doctor in that same spirit, using science to care effectively and faith to care meaningfully. Together, they shape a more holistic and humane approach to medicine.

REVEREND EGLA AITKENS: Cancer Research Nurse & Educator
My teenage Christian faith didn’t prepare me for the spiritual and professional dilemmas that emerged as I grew up.I’ve been a nurse for nearly 40 years, more than half of which I’ve spent in cancer research, witnessing extraordinary advances. Targeted therapy, immunotherapy and personalised medicine have transformed the treatment landscape. Yet illness remains a deeply personal and spiritually complex journey. 

Within the Black Pentecostal Church, science is not always well received. I’ve seen hesitancy toward medical intervention, often rooted in fear of being seen as lacking faith. As a nurse educator and clergy, I seek to engage the congregation through compassionate education and biblical application.

One biblical story that resonates is the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43). After twelve years – with all her resources spent on physicians – she found healing, not through medicine, but through faith. Luke, a physician himself, underscores medicine’s limitations and the reality of divine healing.

Today, many women face similar struggles. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in the UK, yet on average, diagnosis takes nearly nine years. Like the woman in Luke’s account, they endure pain, confusion and unanswered questions. While there’s no cure, science now offers understanding and tools for informed treatment choices.

SELENA FLEMMING: Cosmetic Scientist
Selena holds a degree in Cosmetic Science. Her BSc project focused on the new product development of the Optimum Retinol line, now available at a major high street chain

As a former product technologist and quality assurance manager, I have developed expertise in product development, formulation, safety testing, and regulatory compliance. Inspired by the biblical role of the apothecaries, my work is a continuation of this sacred craft, formulating products that reflect both God’s wisdom in creation and the rigour of scientific advancement.

I am deeply committed to raising awareness of the vital yet often unseen role of cosmetic chemistry in daily life, advocating for more young professionals to explore careers in this field. Through ethical, compassionate, and intellectually rigorous inquiry, I seek to deepen our understanding of the natural world, while fostering a greater appreciation for God’s creation.

NESHALLA GRAY: Science Lecturer
MSc (Biomedical Science: Cellular Pathology), PGCE, BSc (Biomedical Science). A committed Christian who works with the youth and adult Sunday School at her church. She teaches at a community college in London.

In my role as a biochemistry lecturer, I often navigate how deeply intertwined science and faith are. The foundation of my professional life is set in science, with its systematic approach to the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. My faith provides perspectives, offers purpose, meaning, and ethical grounding, and encourages curiosity in the pursuit of knowledge. Science and faith together offer a fuller understanding of reality rather than creating conflict.

Teaching in a further education setting means students bring different worldviews to the classroom. Here, I encourage meaningful conversations where scientific enquiry and faith can coexist. The world was created in an orderly manner which reflects divine order, and scientific reasoning relies on these patterns. Faith and science are complementary forces: science uses evidence to offer possible explanations, while faith invites humility and a sense of awe and appreciation for the mysteries that cannot be explained by science. 

My teaching is enriched by both perspectives. It is driven by curiosity and underpinned by integrity. I am challenged to think critically and act with ethical responsibility, while I inspire my students to do the same.