Darwin Day Lecture 2015: What would Darwin say to today’s creationists?

 Registration is closed for this event
February 12th, 2015 19:00   --   21:00

Many elements of the modern American creationist movement would be familiar to Darwin, especially the argument from design, which of course was very well known (and well-regarded) by educated people of his time. Young Earth creationism, on the other hand, would puzzle him; Bishop Ussher’s 4004 BC age of the Earth was not considered mainstream Christian theology in the late 19th century, though certainly the view had a few adherents among the clergy.

Darwin might have heard of the 'scriptural geologists' who promoted a Young Earth view during the 19th century. But, like other scientists of his time, he would have ignored them. The current creationist strategy of disclaiming evolution as weak science would have seemed more familiar to him, however, given the criticisms of evolution he encountered during his own time.

The talk will be chaired by Professor Richard Dawkins, with an introduction from BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson.

Before the talk starts, the BHA Choir will be performing the world premiere of a piece specifically written for us by Ian Assersohn and based on a quote by Darwin himself (the last few lines of Origin of Species). The piece is called From So Simple ('From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved') which fits with the anniversary and theme of the lecture.

Doors open at 19:00 for a 19:30 start. Tickets cost £15.00, or £10.00 for BHA members.

Please note if you wish to cancel your tickets in the run-up to the evemt, the cut off date for refunds is seven days before the lecture (5 February). 

About Eugenie Scott
Dr Eugenie C Scott is the former Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, Inc., a not-for-profit membership organization of scientists, teachers, and others that works to improve the teaching of science as a way of knowing, the teaching of evolution, and the teaching of climate change. A former college professor, Dr Scott is an internationally recognised expert on the creationism and evolution controversy, and is called upon by the press and other media to explain science to the general public. The author of Evolution vs Creationism: An Introduction and co-editor with Glenn Branch of Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design is Wrong for our Schools, she is the recipient of numerous awards from scientists and educators, and has been awarded nine honorary degrees. She is a lifetime member of the American Humanist Association, and was awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

About Richard Dawkins
Professor Richard Dawkins is a renowned British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008. His popular science books include The Selfish Gene (1976), The Extended Phenotype (1982), The Blind Watchmaker (1986), and The God Delusion (2006), and he is aso a Vice President of the British Humanist Association.

General: £15.00
Member / student / unwaged: £10.00

Location

United Kingdom

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