About Caroline Crocker

Award Winning Author

My Story

It’s Complicated

Here is where I tell you all about me. In my professional life, I’ve been a research scientist, an entrepreneur CEO, and a biology professor. Just for fun, I’m a published author and a member of the Virginia Writer’s Club, the Women’s National Book Association, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I’m also on the Fairfax Commission on the Arts. In my personal life, I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother.  Oh yeah, and I like to garden.

 

You are never too old to set a new goal

or to dream a new dream.

--CS Lewis

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So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do [including write], do all to the glory of God.

– 1 Cor 10:31

The Whole Story

If you’ve scrolled all the way down here, I guess you want to know even more. Like how I got started on the Rambling Ruminations journey. So, here goes.

A Rambling Resume

I have a lot of experience: in start-up companies, networking, team-building, leadership, and wiping runny noses. I’ve written patents and grants, interacted with top-level management of multi-national corporations, and read hundreds, make that thousands, of books to sleepy children. I’m a self-starter and have been instrumental in the funding of basic and clinical research, nonprofits, and a for-profit company. I’ve also figured out new and healthy recipes for picky eaters and shortcuts to a clean home.

As part of working as a scientist and professor, I gained experience in innovative and clear teaching of science and have published professional peer-reviewed research papers. As the wife of a church leader, I’ve written and led Bible studies, offered a listening ear to troubled people, and given talks on various aspects of faith. As a mother and grandmother, I’ve built forts out of couch cushions, made up many stories, rolled in leaves, and jumped in puddles.

With regard to writing, I’ve published popular-level articles on science, faith, and politics, and I’ve written books on science, faith, WWII, and for children, my dog. I enjoy public speaking and media interaction, walking by streams and in forests, and spending time with family and friends. Piles of leaves are my favorite.

That’s what I do. What about what I am?

 

I am a Truth-seeker.

In Research

Pursuing truth is part of my DNA. I trained at university and started my career as a scientist, a profession where we are supposed to be discovering the truth about the natural world. So, when I was working as a research scientist and found that a claim being made by a major research facility wasn’t borne out by my work, I thought the scientific world would want to know. No way! The research manuscript was rejected. I later published the corrective data buried in another paper. Vindication came when my peer-reviewed paper was cited by many other scientists, despite the fact that I was a grad student at the time of publication. (You can find many of my publications here.)

In Teaching and Tutoring

After completing my doctoral studies, I turned to teaching. Students are at college to learn and, especially, to learn to discern what is true and what is not. Right? Not always. Although the students enjoyed the class, the professors and administrators at George Mason University did not think it was a good idea to push thought boundaries regarding whether particular experiments could be said to support a specific view. You can read all about it in my first book, Free to Think. Incidentally, although my thinking about many subjects has changed since I wrote the book (that’ll be reflected in the eventually-upcoming new edition), my stance on the magnificence of Creation and the need to think hasn’t.

My subsequent experience tutoring pre-med and medical students wasn’t much more encouraging with regard to truth. I saw that many modern American medical schools pride themselves on teaching “evidence-based” medicine. Sounds great until one realizes that some of the evidence students are taught to consider is what the patient thinks works and not what science shows. Thus, we have physicians advising people to try alternative therapies. The insurance companies love it because acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and “basic water” are less expensive than traditional therapies. But, patients are harmed. My old blog articles were taken down when I updated this website, but they will reappear in time!

 

In a Nonprofit

My teaching experiences started me down the nonprofit road. I formed a nongovernmental agency, American Institute for Technology and Science Education (AITSE), that promoted integrity in science and medicine, recruited a large team of scientists and physicians to work with us, put out daily information, and published a monthly publication that addressed various topics where the truth was being obscured (AITSE newsletter). To my astonishment, many people not only didn’t care if they were being scammed, some got angry with me for putting out the warning! As a result, AITSE was semi-successful, in that it raised awareness of the need for bunk-free science, but it wasn’t a slam-dunk. After five years, I closed the organization; the website was removed a few years later. 

 

As an Entrepreneur

Next, I took a break from chasing truth to try to benefit the world through some exciting technologies. I started a company, Inovatzia, with a brilliant young inventor, Stan Crocker Petrov. We spent three years writing and submitting patent applications, talking with potential investors, recruiting a team, presenting inventions to multinational companies, and forming a research partnership with a university. All fun stuff, but I missed following my own passions. So, once the company was up and running, the patents were submitted and we were getting feedback, the university began producing data showing that the product they were testing worked, the necessary people began to take an interest, and the company needed to expand, I decided it was the right time for me to step out. And I did. In case you’re curious, Stan kept right on inventing and now works as Chief Scientific Officer for National Circuit Assembly.

 

Rambling Ruminations is Launched

After a time recovering from the rush of a start-up, I spent an adventurous year working as the Director of Communications for an international nonprofit that my husband was leading. That meant traveling the world! Kenya, Australia, England, Israel, and even the USA. So much packing, unpacking, sitting in airplanes. But also a lot of meeting awesome people.

But, since 2019, I’ve been back to doing what always has, and probably always will, energize me.

 

Writing!

Actually, doing research and writing. I’ve grown very curious about the lives of those who went before, which means lots of historical research, figuring out what was true then. My hope is that some of my blog articles and books will help people discern truth and detect lies, whether in the area of science, medicine, faith or history. I’d also like to help others realize their passion for writing. But, mostly I’m just having fun–writing nonfiction books that read like fiction and hanging out with grandkids. Especially that.

 

Contact me

Email me at Caroline(at)rambling ruminations.com. I’d love to hear from you!

 

In the News

My Publications

Popular Books

  1. Crocker, IC. Unforgivable: Through a Child’s Eyes Rambling Ruminations (in progress).
  2. Crocker, IC and Evenbly, MA. Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child 2022. Amsterdam Publishers.
  3. Crocker, IC. Clemmy the bulldog, a series of four children’s picture books Clemmy Gets a Family, Clemmy Learns to Talk, Clemmy Gets a Job, Clemmy Gets a Sister. 2023. Rambling Ruminations.
  4. Crocker, IC, Microbiology Experiments to do at Home. 2020. KDP.
  5. Crocker, IC, Andrews, K. Growing the Church 101: Being Disciples Who Make Disciples 2017. KDP.
  6. Crocker, IC. Ireentje: The Early Years 2017. KDP due to personal circumstances.
  7. Crocker, IC. Free to Think: No Intelligence Allowed 2010. Leafcutter Press.

Popular Articles

There have been far too many to list here. Many were remived when my website was updated. But they will be reappearing on my blog. Watch this space!

Science Books and Chapters

  1. Crocker, IC. Guide to Cell Structure and Function Used at NVCC.
  2. Crocker, IC, Townley, RG. Leukotrienes: their receptors, antagonists, and synthesis inhibitors. In: Townley RG, Agrawal DK (ed) The Immunopharmacology of Allergic Diseases 1996. Marcel Dekker Inc., NY.
  3. Crocker, IC. Studies on the Modulation of Phosphodiesterase Activity in Human T Lymphocytes 1999.Southampton, PhD Dissertation, University Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences.
  4. Crocker IC. Prevention of Microbial Colonisation of Intravascular Cannulae in vitro by a Novel Electrical Method 1993. Birmingham, MSc Dissertation, University Faculty of Biological Sciences.

    Papers

    1. Crocker IC, Townley RG. Therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors in allergic diseases. Drugs of Today 1999; 35(7):519-535.
    2. Crocker IC, Church MK, Ohia SE, Townley RG. Beclomethasone decreases elevation in phosphodiesterase activity in human T lymphocytes. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2000; 121(2):151-160.
    3. Crocker IC, Ohia SE, Church MK, Townley RG. Phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors, but not glucocorticoids, are more potent in suppression of cytokine secretion by mononuclear cells from atopic than nonatopic donors. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1998; 102:797-804.
    4. Crocker IC, Church MK, Newton S, Townley RG. Glucocorticoids inhibit proliferation and interleukin-4 and -5 secretion by aeroallergen-specific T-helper type 2 cell lines. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1998; 80(6):509-16.
    5. Crocker IC, Zhou CY, Bewtra AK, Kreutner W, Townley RG. Glucocorticosteroids inhibit leukotriene production. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1997; 78:497-505.
    6. Crocker IC, Gupta K, Townley RG, Khan MM. The profile of the cytokines secreted during the generation of T-helper cell lines from atopic asthmatic subjects. Journal of Asthma 1998;35:187-201.
    7. Zhou C-Y, Crocker IC, Koenig G, Romero FA, Townley RG. Anti-interleukin-4 inhibits immunoglobulin E production in a murine model of atopic asthma. Journal of Asthma 1997; 34:195-201.
    8. Crocker IC, Townley RG, Khan MM. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors suppress proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and interleukin-4 and -5 secretion by human T-helper type 2 cells. Immunopharmacology 1996; 31:223-235.
    9. Knoop FC, Owens M, Crocker IC. Clostridium difficile: clinical disease and diagnosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 1993; 6:251-265.
    10. Crocker IC, Liu WK, Byrne PO, Elliott TS. A novel electrical method for the prevention of microbial colonization of intravascular cannulae. Journal of Hospital Infection 1992; 1.22:7-17.

    Abstracts  (Presented at national and international science meetings)

    1. Willcox, D, Crocker, IC. Cell biology comprehension and communication: Optimizing large class instruction. George Mason University Center for Teaching Excellence 2004.
    2. Crocker IC, Church MK, Ohia SE, Townley RG. Modulation of phosphodiesterase activity in CD4+ T cells from atopic and nonatopic donors. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999;159(3):A662.
    3. Crocker IC, Church MK, Ohia SE, Townley RG. Elevated phosphodiesterase activity in atopy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Imunology 1999;103(1):S195.
    4. Crocker IC, Church MK, Ohia SE, Townley RG. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are more potent in suppression of cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from atopic than nonatopic donors. J Allergy and Clin Immunol 1998;101:S143.
    5. Pasha MA, Crocker IC, Romero FA, Townley RG. The role of neuropeptides and zileuton on activation and mediator synthesis and release. Journal of Allergy and Immunology 1998;101:S37.
    6. Townley S, Crocker IC, Townley RG. Investigation of the effect of beta-adrenergic agents and a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cytokine secretion. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1998;101:S144.
    7. Crocker IC, Townley RG. Interleukin-10 secretion is inhibited by phosphodiesterase inhibitors and glucocorticoids in vitro. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;155:A751.
    8. Crocker IC, Newton S, Townley RG. Glucocorticoids inhibit cytokine secretion and proliferation by T-cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:S331.
    9. Crocker IC, Ohia SE, Townley RG. Glucocorticoid inhibits phosphodiesterase activity in CD4+ T-cells and T-helper type 2 cells (TH2), but not in A549 cells. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;155:A542.
    10. Kimura G, Agrawal DK, Crocker IC, Townley RG. A comparison of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion by U937 cells and freshly-isolated human blood monocytes. Presented at the ICAACI meeting in Cancun, Mexico 1997.
    11. Fitzpatrick A, Crocker IC, McGovern M, Townley RG, Robbins RA. Eosinophils bind to bronchial epithelial cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;97:273.
    12. Crocker IC, Zhou C-Y, Kreutner W, Bewtra AK, Townley RG. Glucocorticoids inhibit leukotriene release by mixed leukocytes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;97:289.
    13. Crocker IC, Khan MM, Townley RG. PDE IV inhibitors suppress IL-5 secretion by human TH2 cell lines. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;95:364.
    14. Crocker IC, Tanimoto Y, Maruo H, Romero A, Zhou C-Y, Townley RG. Evaluation of a cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) ELISA system. Am Rev Respir Crit Care Med 1995;153.
    15. Zhou C-Y, Crocker IC, Romero FA, Bewtra AK, Townley RG. Regulation of IgE production by anti-IL-4 in a mouse model. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;97:412.
    16. Zhou C-Y, Maruo H, Tanimoto Y, Romero FA, Crocker IC, Townley RG. Effect of formoterol (F) and MK-886 on superoxide (0–) generation by mixed peripheral leukocytes (MPL). Am Rev Respir Crit Care Med 1995;153:A221.
    17. Crocker IC, Townley RG, Khan MM. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors modulate cytokine secretion and proliferation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994;93:286.
    18. Khan MM, Crocker IC, Townley RG. Characterization of aeroallergen-specific T-
    19. helper 2 lymphocytes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994;93:287.
    20. Elliott TSJ, Crocker IC. The clinical problems associated with intravascular devices used for infusion therapy. Proceedings of the 5th BRL Koor House Workshop on Antibiotics 1991;Scheveningen.

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