Information About the Presenters

 

Almenar, Jorge Manuel Rodrigues - He lives in Valencia, Spain. He is scheduled to present his Doctoral Thesis in Art History: "The Shroud and its implications Historical-artistic" on July 18, 2017. Since 1994 he is a full time Professor in the Civil Law Department at the University of Valencia. He is also the President of the Spanish Center for Sindonology (Centro Espanol de Sindonologia - CES).

Antonacci, Mark - Mark Antonacci is an attorney in St. Louis. He has studied all aspects of the Shroud for over 35 years, and is the founder and president of the Test the Shroud Foundation. He wrote The Resurrection of the Shroud (New York: M. Evans and Co., 2000), the most comprehensive book ever written on the Shroud until his recent book, Test the Shroud, was published in 2016. He has proposed that a new series of minimallyinvasive and non-destructive tests be performed on the Shroud at its atomic, molecular and other levels. He has written a scientific hypothesis that not only explains the Shroud’s body images, but also its radiocarbon dating, its excellent condition, its pristine human blood marks, their still-red coloration, the possible outer side imaging, coin features and flower images, skeletal features and all its other unique features. He asserts that new proposed tests could prove whether the Shroud was irradiated with particle radiation; whether the source was the length, width and depth of the crucified corpse in the cloth; when this event happened; where it occurred; the age of the Shroud and its blood; and the identity of the victim.

Baldacchini, Giuseppe - Giuseppe Baldacchini received the degree in physics from the University of Rome in 1965. Since then he has been working mainly at the Research Center of ENEA, Frascati, Rome, Italy, where he was Director of the Section Lasers and Accelerators until his retirement at the end of 2008. Lately, he irradiated linen cloths with excimer lasers to study the dynamics of coloration, an important process to understand the origin of the body image of the Shroud of Turin.

Baltz, Fred - Dr. Frederick W. Baltz is a member of the faculty of the Institute of Lutheran Theology, Brookings, South Dakota. He is also the Pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Galena, Illinois. He holds degrees from: Dana College, Blair, Nebraska; Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa; and The University of Dubuque Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Dr. Baltz has written numerous books and articles, and also appears in biblical education videos.

Barcaccia, Gianni - Ph.D. 1995 in Plant Reproductive Systems and Population Genetics at the University of Perugia (Italy). Since 2017, Full Professor of Plant Genetics at the University of Padova (Italy) and Adjunct Professor of Plant Breeding at the University of Georgia, Athens (USA). Chair Professor of Applied Genomics and Molecular Traceability in different B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree courses of the Academic School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (www.agrariamedicinaveterinaria.unipd.it/en/). Author of more than 100 scientific papers, both original articles and reviews, published in valuable international peerreviewed journals. In addition, author of several academic books of Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnologies (for details, look for Gianni Barcaccia in https://scholar.google.it/ . Expertise in Molecular markers and Genomics, Plant Reproductive Systems and Plant Breeding, and Population Genetics. Emphasis on the use of DNA barcoding and DNA genotyping for the genetic identification of plant and animal species and populations.

Barta, Cesar - City: Madrid, Country: Spain Education: physicist Current or previous position: test engineer in the space industry for more than 25 years. Most significant contribution to Shroud research: He was involved in the Shroud research following its carbon 14 dating and he is member of the Centro Español de Sindonología (CES).

Boi, Marzia - City: Palma de Mallorca, Country: Spain, Education: PhD in Biology, Current or previous position: university professor and researcher in Palynology. Most significant contribution to Shroud research: study of pollen on the Sudario of Oviedo and bibliographic study and revision of Shroud pollen.

Bracaglia, Giorgio - Giorgio Bracaglia has over 41 years of experience in analog and digital imaging, specializing in color management. He is now working in research and development for a security printing firm formulating combinations of amplified modulation screen builds, angles, and screen resolution for phone app recognition and prevention of unwarranted reproduction. He is also doing research into and archiving of 60 years of scientific studies and spiritual materials developed at the Holy Shroud Guild (www.Holyshroudguild.org), the oldest Shroud organization in the United States. His goal is to preserve the work of the Holy Shroud Guild and author a book about the Guild’s history.

Breault, Russ - Russ Breault has been researching and lecturing on The Shroud of Turin for over 30 years, and is the president and founder of the Shroud of Turin Education Project Inc., the mission of which is to: “Advance the knowledge of the Shroud to a new generation.” He has participated in over a dozen international research symposiums since 1981 and three recent public exhibitions in Turin, Italy in 1998, 2000 and 2010. He is a long-time member of the Shroud Science Group, an international consortium of scientists and scholars dedicated to further research. His highly acclaimed presentation known as Shroud Encounter (www.ShroudEncounter.com) makes use of over 200 superb images and unfolds like a CSI investigation. Russ has presented to hundreds of audiences from New York to Hawaii. College and university presentations include Duke, Johns Hopkins, Penn State, Cal State and many others. He has appeared in several nationally televised documentaries and was a primary expert for EWTN’s documentary, “The Holy Winding Sheet”.

Caccese, Alfonso - Alfonso Caccese lives in Rome (Italy) where he teaches Catholic religion. He obtained a degree in Psychology at La Sapienza University in Rome and a doctorate in Greek patristic at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He is a Master Iconographer; his icons are spread throughout Italy. He is co-founder of the Roman Association In Novitate Radix (www.innovitateradix.it). His research is about the influence of the Holy Shroud in the representation of Christ.

Casabianca, Tristan - Ajaccio (France), M.A., LL.M. In 2013, Tristan Casabianca has applied traditional criteria of historical assessment to the Turin Shroud, in order to show which image formation hypothesis should be called the most likely.

Dalton, Fr. Andrew - Fr Andrew Dalton is a Catholic priest of the Legionaries of Christ, who found his vocation while studying at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After achieving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology, he specialized in Biblical languages at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and Biblical Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. As he pursues his doctorate, he is currently an adjunct professor of theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, where he teaches Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, and the Synoptic Gospels. Fr Dalton is also an official trainer of Verbum Bible Software. Regarding the Shroud, Fr Dalton teaches the Biblical Theology of the Passion of the Christ as part of the Diploma in Shroud Studies offered by the Institute of Science and Faith in collaboration with the International Center of Sindonology in Turin and the Giulio Ricci Diocesan Center of Sindonology in Rome. Fr Dalton is also a board member for Othonia, a center for investigation and study of the Shroud with exhibitions all over the world.

Di Lascio, A. - Medical doctor in private practice.

Di Lazzaro, Paolo - Ph.D in physics, employed at ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Frascati, Italy

Lind, Arthur - Dr. Lind has a PhD in physics and during his career has conducted research and development for the Watervliet Arsenal and the McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories. After retiring in 1998 he continues to conduct development work for different companies.

Fanti, Giulio - Giulio Fanti is Associate Professor of Mechanical and Thermal Measurements since 1992 and at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Padua since 1996. With reference to the Turin Shroud, he is coordinator of the Shroud Science group and member of the scientific committees of several conferences; his current research activity is aimed at the, at least partial, explanation of the process of body image formation (still not reproducible in its entirety), at the 3D reconstruction of the wrapped man's posture, at the dating of the Relic by means of alternative methods to C14 and at the micro/nano-analysis of bodily fluids to better define the effect of the tortures suffered by that Man. He is author of approximately 200 publications also published in Italian and international journals and books, most of them on subjects related to the Shroud.

Fleming, Tony - Tony Fleming, Melbourne, Australia, Ph.D. Research Scientist Department of Defence and Telstra, now working independently; in 2014 contributed the Biophotonics Hypothesis (https://www.shroud.com/pdfs/stlflemingpaper.pdf) to various theories of Shroud Image Formation. This hypothesis considered whether chromosomes acting during the cell cycle could cause a UV flash thus initiating the Image of the Shroud.

Godinez, Jose’ Carlos Espriella - Jose' Carlos Espriella Godinez from Mexico city. He studied Chemistry at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and obtained a Masters degree at Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana. He is a chemistry professor at Escuela Nacional Preparatoria.

Iacomussi, P. - Currently employed at INRIM.

Latendresse, Dr. Mario - Dr. Mario Latendresse is a computer scientist at SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Montreal in Canada. He has published papers and a book related to the Shroud of Turin about image formation and history. He is the publisher of two web sites about the Shroud, in English at sindonology.org and in French at linceul.org.

Lind, Arthur - Art Lind, Ph.D in Physics, consults with several companies.

Marinelli, Emanuela - Emanuela Marinelli lives in Rome (Italy). She is retired after teaching Geography. She obtained two degrees, in Natural Sciences and in Geological Sciences, at La Sapienza University in Rome. She has been co-founder of Collegamento pro Sindone (www.shroud.it). She wrote many books on the Holy Shroud and was the Coordinator of the Organizing Committee of the Worldwide Congress Sindone 2000. On October 2015, she has been awarded the Gold Medal of Merit of the Catholic Culture.

Marino, Joseph. G. - Joe Marino has a B.A. in Theological Studies, currently works as a library associate at Ohio State University, and lives in Dublin, Ohio. He has documented numerous problems with the Shroud's C-14 dating, including evidence of a probable repair in that area of the sample.

Markwardt, Jack - Jack is a resident of Estero, Florida. He attended Rutgers University; Albany Law School, and holds a Juris Doctor degree (JD), cum laude. He is a trial attorney and legal editor. He is the author of numerous papers presented to international Shroud symposia which (1) place the Turin Shroud in ancient Antioch, link it to the evangelization of Edessa and the formulation of the Abgar legend, and identify it as the Byzantine Image of God Incarnate, a cloth brought to Constantinople in 574 and publicly exhibited there in 1203-1204; (2) repudiate the charges of fraudulence which were leveled against the Turin Shroud, in 1900-1903, by Canon Ulysse Chevalier and Reverend Herbert Thurston; (3) explain the Shroud’s whereabouts and movements prior to 1355, the manner of its acquisition by Geoffrey de Charny, and the silence regarding its provenance; and (4) establish that the Church investigated the Shroud and determined it to be an authentic relic of Jesus Christ.

Missori, M. - Currently employed at CNR.

Murra, Daniele - Currently employed at ENEA.

Pescetelli, Dr. Pietro - Pietro Pescetelli is an Italian Medical Doctor, born in Rome on 1954. He obtained a degree in Medicine and Surgery at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart of Rome. He is a specialist in Cardiology and Internal Medicine.

Piana, Alessandro - He lives in Monza, Italy, specializing on the history of the Shroud. He’s the author of books and articles on the Shroud. He lectures in Italy, participates in conferences and seminars, and participates in radio and TV broadcasting.

Provera, Laura - Laura Provera lives in Rome (Italy), where she teaches Greek in the Pontifical University Antonianum (Franciscan Fathers OFM) and has been Lecturer of Hebrew in the Waldensian Faculty of Theology. She obtained a Master of Arts at the University of Turin and a Sacred Scripture License at the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome. Her research is about historical and literary texts, regarding the Holy Shroud, of patristic and medieval period.

Respice, Domenico - Domenico Repice, Catholic priest, obtained the License in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he is completing a PhD on the relationship between the Holy Shroud and the theology of the image. He is co-founder of the associations In Novitate Radix, (www.innovitateradix.it) and Amici Romani della Sindone. He organized many conventions about the Holy Shroud. He published several articles and the book Quattro percorsi accanto alla Sindone.

Rogers, Charles - Charles A. Rogers lives in Richland, Washington, U.S.A. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963 from Northwestern University and his Master of Science degree in 1964 from University of Illinois with a major in physics. He worked at Battelle Northwest Critical Mass Laboratory before transferring to Westinghouse Hanford Company as a nuclear criticality safety specialist. He also worked for several other companies on Hanford Plant Site before retiring in 2007. This is his first contribution to Shroud research.

Rucker, Robert A. (Bob) - Bob Rucker earned BS and MS degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan, and attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for one year. He worked for 24 years at General Atomics in San Diego, California, doing nuclear analysis for core physics design of advanced nuclear reactors and led the “Statistics and Measurement Control” group doing by-monthly inventories of fissile material in a nuclear fuel fabrication facility. He next worked as a consultant for 13 years at various locations doing criticality safety calculations and documentation for nuclear fuel fabrication and handling. He is now using nuclear analysis computer calculations to model the Shroud covering a body in a tomb to solve the carbon dating problem.

Schaffer, Michael - Michael J. Schaffer was born in Los Angeles but lived mostly in San Diego, CA, USA. Graduated from MIT (Sc.D., Electrical Science and Engineering, 1966), he has 44 years of experience in fusion energy and plasma physics research, mostly at General Atomics. Retired, he is now interested in whether a plasma contributed to the Shroud image formation.

Schulz, Waldean - Waldean (“Dean”) Schulz, Spokane, WA, USA Ph.D. Computer Science, retired software engineer (16 patents). I have followed Shroud research and know a couple researchers/authors. I have made a number of presentations on the Shroud to small groups.

Siefker, Robert - Education Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California; Masters in Philosophy and Theology from the Dominican School of Theology and Philosophy 2001 (Student Graduation Speaker); University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California; Masters in Business Administration 1973; University of California, Berkeley, California; BS in Engineering 1969; UCLA, Engineering 1964-1968 on Navy Scholarship; Transfer by Navy to Berkeley for special engineering classes 1968. Vice President J.D Edwards & Company, Denver, Colorado (Large worldwide producer of enterprise management software) 1987-1999; Vice President The McCosker Corporation , Oakland, California (Producer of software for the construction and real estate industries) 1980-1987; Senior Engineer Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, California 1975-1980; United States Navy Civil Engineering Corps 1969-1975 (Okinawa and Vietnam with Seabees; Public Works Engineering Officer at Moffett Field Naval Air Station, Sunnyvale, California). Turin Shroud Center of Colorado (TSC) Affiliated since 2006 as research associate; Co-author of “The Shroud of Turin, A Critical Summary of Observations, Data, and Hypotheses” with John Jackson, PhD in physics and the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado (TSC) research staff.

White, Dr. Cheryl - Dr. Cheryl White is an Associate Professor of History with Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Her graduate studies emphasized medieval and early modern European history, with a secondary emphasis in the history of dogmatic theology. Her interest in Christian Church history and theology has driven her to be a frequent guest lecturer around the nation on the Shroud of Turin.

Janis Winchester - Janis Winchester received a BA from the University of Florida, and a MSPA from Florida State University. She was employed as a Forensic Scientist with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for 38 years. She worked in the Crime Laboratory, Inspections, and the Training Academy, is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and other professional organizations, and is now retired. She has studied the Shroud over the last 20 years, met with Shroud Researchers in Europe and America, accumulated a library of books about the Shroud, and attended the 2014 International Shroud Conference held in St. Louis.