Dr. Jitse van der Meer
Fellow of The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science
Redeemer University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Biography
Biographical information is not available at present.
Biography
Jitse M. van der Meer (1947) obtained his PhD (developmental biology) from Radboud University (NL) (1978) and an MA (History and Philosophy of Science) from the University of Guelph (1993). He did research in developmental biology at the University of Heidelberg (1978-79) and Purdue University (1979-82). He is a member of the founding faculty of Redeemer University, Ancaster, Canada (1982). In 2013 he retired as professor of biology and of history and philosophy of science. He co-founded the Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science (1988) and was its director from 1988 to 2000. His publications cover developmental biology, history and philosophy of biology as well as science and religion. He edited or co-edited nine volumes in science and religion. Current research interests include the engagement of religion and science, the history and philosophy of 19th century biology (G. Cuvier, T. Dobzhansky), and theoretical biology.
Honoraria Titles
Major Prizes
1982: The Gold Medal of the Second Society of the Teyler Foundation, The Netherlands. Awarded for research on segment pattern development in early insect embryos.
1996: Howard Vollum Writing Award for 1996 of the Institute for Christian Leadership. 1996: Awarded for "The Struggle Between Christian Theism, Metaphysical Naturalism and Relativism: How to Proceed in Science?"
Religion, Philosophy & History Interests
Christianity-Protestantism
Science & Technology Interests
Evolution
Publications
"Is Cuvier’s Notion of Perfection Paradoxical?"
2025
Editors:
Volume: 78 (1)
Pages: 437-460
Digital off-print : https://shs.cairn.info/tap-z3tylkx2j3fq2 available until Jan. 16, 2026
"Genesis, Science, and Theories of Origin."
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2022
Editors:Bill T. Arnold
Volume: In: The Cambridge Companion to Genesis
Pages: 236-261
"The Concept of Natural Selection in Theodosius Dobzhansky. Its Development and Interpretation."
Springer 2021
Editors: Richard G. Delisle
Volume: In: Natural Selection: Revisiting its Explanatory Role in Evolutionary Biology
Pages: 291-326
"Is There a Created Order for Cosmic Evolution in the Philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd?"
Springer Verlag 2017
Editors: Gerrit Glas and Jeroen de Ridder
Volume: In: The Future of Creation Order. Vol. 1, Philosophical, Scientific, and Religious Perspectives on Order and Emergence.
Pages: 171-202.
"European Calvinists and the Study of Nature: Some Historical Patterns and Problems."
Brill Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 2014
Editors: Gijsbert van den Brink & Harro Höpfl
Volume: In: Calvinism and the Making of the European Mind
Pages: 103-130.
"Stratified Cosmic Order: Distinguishing Parts, Wholes, and Levels of Organization."
Ashgate 2011
Editors: Navarro, Jaume.
Volume: In: Science and Faith within Reason: Reality, Creation, Life and Design
Pages: 145-164.
"Introduction."
Brill Academic Publishers. 2008
Co-authors: Mandelbrote, S.
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer & Scott Mandelbrote
Volume: In: Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: Up to 1700. Vol. 36/1.
Pages: 3-34.
"Georges Cuvier and the Use of Scripture in Geology."
Brill Academic Publishers. 2008
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer & Scott Mandelbrote
Volume: In: Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: 1700 - Present. Vol. 37/1.
Pages: 115-144.
Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: Up to 1700.
Brill Academic Publishers. 2008
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer & Scott Mandelbrote
Volume: 36/1 & 36/2.
Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: 1700-Present.
Brill Academic Publishers. 2008
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer & Scott Mandelbrote
Volume: 37/1 & 37/2
Science in Theistic Contexts: Cognitive Dimensions.
University of Chicago Press. 2001
Editors: Brooke, J.H.; Osler, M.J.; van der Meer, J.M.
Volume: Osiris 16
Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 1: Historiography and Modes of Interaction.
The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. 1996
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer
Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 2: The Role of Beliefs in Mathematics and the Natural Sciences: An Augustinian Perspective.
The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. 1996
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer
Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 3: The Role of Beliefs in the Natural Sciences.
The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. 1996
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer
Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 4: Interpreting God's Action in the World.
The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. 1996
Editors: Jitse M. van der Meer
"God, Scripture, and the Rise of Modern Science (1200-1700): Notes in the Margin of Harrison’s Hypothesis."
Brill Academic Publishers. 2008
Editors: van der Meer, J.M. & Mandelbrote, S.
Volume: In: Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: Up to 1700. Vol. 36/2.
Pages: 363-396.
"Theodosius Dobzhansky: Nothing in Evolution Makes Sense Except in the Light of Religion."
Peter Lang 2007
Editors: Nicolaas Rupke
Volume: In: Eminent Lives in Twentieth-Century Science and Religion.
Pages: 79-101.
"Reading Nature in the Light of Scripture: the Case of Georges Cuvier (1769-1832)."
Peeters. Leuven, Belgium. 2006
Editors: K. van Berkel & A. Vanderjagt.
Volume: In: The Book of Nature in Early Modern and Modern History.
Pages: 181-193.
"De Biologie van Moreel Gedrag: Een Keuze Uit Feiten en Ficties." [The Biological basis of Morality. A Selection of Facts and Fictions.]
Ten Have. Baarn, NL. 2005.
Editors: C. Dekker, R. W. J. Meester & R. van Woudenberg.
Volume: In: Schitterend Ongeluk of Sporen van Ontwerp: Over Toeval en Doelgerichtheid in de Evolutie. [Splendid Accident or Traces of Design: On Randomness and Purposefulness in Evolution.]
Pages: 235-254.
"Interpreting Nature and Scripture: A New Proposal for their Interaction."
The ITEST Faith/Science Press: St. Louis, Missouri. 2001
Editors: Robert Brungs, SJ and Marianne Postiglione, RSM.
Pages: 38-72
"The Actor in the Interaction of Science and Religion. An Application of Dooyeweerd's Anthropology to the Study of Religion and Science Relations."
The Edwin Mellin Press. Lewiston. 2000
Editors: D.F.M. Strauss.
Volume: 1: Contemporary Reflections on the Philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd.
Pages: 183-194
"Control of Mitosis and Ooplasmic Movements in Insect Eggs."
McGraw-Hill. New York. 1990
Editors: G.M. Malacinski.
Pages: 263-293
"RNase reverses segment sequence in the anterior of a beetle egg (Callosobruchus maculatus, Coleoptera)."
2018
Volume: 330 (1)
Pages: 1-8
"Przekonania towarzyszące, ideologia i nauka." (Polish tr. of “Background Beliefs, Ideology and Science,” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 65 (2): 87-103 (2013).
2016
Volume: 13
Pages: 153-194
"Introduction."
2015
Volume: III. 1
Pages:41-46
"Assessing Metaphor as Mediator Between Christianity and Science."
2015
Volume:III. 1
Pages: 157-182.
"Background Beliefs, Ideology and Science."
2013
Volume: 65 (2)
Pages: 87-103.
"The Bible, Protestantism and the Rise of Natural Science: a Response to Harrison’s Thesis."
2009
Co-authors: Richard J. Oosterhoff
Volume: 20-2
Pages: 133-153
"Divine Action and The Varieties of Downward Causation: an Ambiguous Concept in Theology and Science."
2002
Editors: N.H. Gregersen & M.W. Parsons
Volume: 8
Pages: 141-161
"The Engagement of Religion and Biology: A Case Study in the Mediating Role of Metaphor in the Sociobiology of Lumsden and Wilson."
2000
Volume: 15
Pages: 669-698.
"The Role of Metaphysical & Religious Beliefs in Science."
1997
Editors: N.H. Gregersen & M.W. Parsons
Volume: 5
Pages: 247-256.
"The Concept of Human Nature in Science and Theology."
Labor et Fides. Geneva. 1997
Editors: N.H. Gregersen & M.W. Parsons
Volume: 3
Pages: 187-192.
"The Multi-Modal Hierarchy: Distinguishing Parts, Wholes, and Levels of Organization."
International Society for the Systems Sciences: Louisville, KY. 1996
Editors: Hall, M.L.H.
Pages: 507-518
"Religious Belief in Sociobiology: How a Physical Analogy Introduces Materialism in Human Sociobiology."
The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. 1996
Editors: J.M. van der Meer
Volume: 2
Pages: 271-286.
"The Struggle Between Christian Theism, Metaphysical Naturalism and Relativism: How to Proceed in Science?"
1996
Volume: 26
Pages: n/a
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/facdialogue/Issue26
"The Role of Metabolism and Calcium in the Control of Mitosis and Ooplasmic Movements in Insect Eggs: A Working Hypothesis."
1988
Volume: 63
Pages: 109-157
"Development of the embryonic segment pattern in the pea-beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. Supracellular, cellular and molecular aspects."
1985
Volume: 8
Pages: 227-241
"Development of the embryonic segment pattern in insects. Morphological, cellular and molecular aspects."
1984
Volume:Abstracts 17th Inc. Congress of Entomology. Hamburg.
Pages: 415
"Parameters Influencing Reversal of Segment Sequence in Posterior Egg Fragments of Callosobruchus (Coleoptera)."
1984
Volume: 193
Pages: 339-356
"The Specification of Metameric Order in the Insect Callosobruchus maculatus Fabr. (Coleoptera) II. The effects of termporary constriction on segment number. "
1984
Co-authors: Miyamoto, D.M.
Volume: 193
Pages: 326-338
"Elemental Composition of the Perivitelline Fluid in Early Drosophila Embryos."
1983
Co-authors: Jaffe, L. F.
Volume: 95
Pages: 249-252
"Mitotic Waves and Embryonic Pattern Formation: No Correlation in Callosobruchus (Coleoptera)."
1982
Co-authors: Kemmner, W., Miyamoto, D.M.
Volume: 191
Pages: 355-365.
"Early egg contractions and pattterned parasynchronous cleavage in a living insect egg."
1982
Co-authors: Miyamoto, D.M.
Volume: 191
Pages: 95-102.
The specification of metameric order in the insect Callosobruchus maculatus Fabr. (Coleoptera) I. Incomplete segment patterns can result from constriction-induced cytological damage to the egg.
1979
Volume:51
Pages:1-26
"Enkele Achtergronden van het Fundamentalistisch Creationisme."
1979
Volume: 43 (4)
Pages:65-71
"Region-specific cell differentiation during early insect development. Experimental morphological aspects of embryonic pattern formation in the coleopteran Callosobruchus maculatus Fabr."
Radboud University, Nijmegen, N.L. 1978
Pages:1-185
"Optically clean and permanent whole mount preparation for phase-contrast microscopy of cuticular structures of insect larvae."
1977
Volume:52
Pages: 160
Differentiation capacities of the dorsal metathoracic (haltere) disc of Drosophila melanogaster II. Regeneration and duplication.
1974
Co-authors: Ouweneel, W. J.
Volume: 174
Pages:361-373
"Differentiation capacities in the dorsal metathoracic (haltere) disc of Drosophila melanogaster I. Normal organ map."
1973
Co-authors: Ouweneel, W. J.
Volume: 172
Pages:149-161
"Determination and regulation in the haltere disc."
1972
Co-authors: Ouweneel, W. J.
Volume:49
Pages:88
