A research institute established in 1957 by action of the Annual Council for the purpose of making available to the Seventh-day Adventist Church competent advice concerning the relation of scientific evidence to inspired testimony. The institute focuses mainly on the biological, geological, and paleontological questions regarding the origin of life and the past history of our planet in the context of the Creation account given in the book of Genesis.
The institute conducts its work through laboratory, field, and literature investigation. It also devotes significant effort in communicating with the church and other entities through teaching, lecturing, geological field conferences, videos, and periodical publications. In 1974 the institute began publishing Origins , a semiannual technical publication. Geoscience Reports , which is designed for elementary and secondary educational levels, began publication in 1981. The Spanish periodical Ciencia de los Origenes has been in production since 1982.
The institute was first located on the campus of Andrews University. In 1980 it was moved to Loma Linda University in order to take advantage of the close proximity of significant geological features as well as the scientific environment of that institution. At Loma Linda the institute has laboratories and a 20,000-volume library. In 1991 the institute established two branch offices: one in Europe at the Saleve Adventist Institute in France, and one in South America at the River Plate Adventist University in Argentina.
Directors: Frank L. Marsh, 1957–1964; Richard M. Ritland, 1964–1971; Ariel A. Roth, 1971–1973; Robert H. Brown, 1973–1980; Ariel A. Roth, 1980–1994; L. James Gibson, 1994– .