Events Calendar
Events Calendar » The "Darwin Bicentennial Birthday Celebration" Lecture 6
The "Darwin Bicentennial Birthday Celebration" Lecture 6
May 27, 2009
Ken Miller is a professor of cell biology and an outspoken proponent of the theory of evolution, which, he explains, has never been on stronger scientific footing. He is also a practicing Roman Catholic who does not find his belief in God to be incompatible with his scientific views. Miller has written two books exploring the relationship between religious faith and evolution: Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution (1999), and Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul (2008), which explores the controversy surrounding the teaching of intelligent design. Miller has also written more than 50 scientific articles and co-authored five high school and college biology texts.
“Time to Abandon Darwin? Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul”
Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. in 150 Columbia Hall
Are the critics of evolution right? Is it time to throw Charles Darwin into the dustbin of history? And does it matter for our future as a nation?
Many cite the continuing opposition to evolution as an indication of deep, fundamental problems with evolutionary theory. It is time, many say, to replace “Darwinism” with more comprehensive, flexible ideas like “intelligent design,” or, at the very least, to introduce criticisms of evolution into our educational system. The nature of these criticisms were at the heart of the landmark Kitzmiller v. Dover trial on the teaching of intelligent design in 2005. As the lead witness for the victorious plaintiffs in that trial, I will assess the state of this conflict in America today, and suggest ways in which the scientific and educational communities can respond.
"“Darwin, God, and Design: America’s Continuing Problem with Evolution”
Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the UO in Portland, White Stag Block, 70N.W. Couch St.
Today, 150 years after the publication of On the Origin of Species, evolution is still controversial in the United States. Why is that the case? Is it the result of fundamental scientific flaws with the theory? Or does it reflect a deeper unease within our society about the nature of science itself?
Why does the very mention of the word “evolution” incite such passions among Americans? Why do many prominent Americans, and even Presidential candidates seem to feel they must reject “Darwinism” to demonstrate their solidarity with a large segment of the American populace? Is this the result of genuine scientific problems with evolutionary theory? As I will describe, evolution has never been on a sounder scientific footing than it is today. Evolution unifies fields as disparate as genetics, physiology, paleontology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. There is a way, I will suggest, to bring the strength of this scientific consensus to bear on public discourse. Doing so will not only increase public support and appreciation of science, but may give the scientific community a better appreciation of the relationship of science to our larger culure.
