Darwin, Design and Democracy V:
Science Converges on Design - from Cosmology to Paleontology to Biology
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Purchase Audio CD's
and Cassettes
from
DDD-V 2004
ID Symposium
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September
24-25, 2004
Woodward
Hall, University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
  
Astronomer
Guillermo Gonzalez, PhD and Philosopher
Jay Richards, PhD will discuss their new book and show the movie it spawned.
Key design theorists and many others will
lead you from the origin of life through the remarkable "recurrence
of similar design solutions in different phylogenetic lineages,
despite their absence in a common ancestor." A
prominent question in biology today is "what
drives this convergence?" Biochemist Michael Behe,
PhD, Mathematician William Dembski, PhD and Chemist,
Fazale Rana, Ph.D. and many others will discuss the data
and why it seems to converge on design rather than a chance
driven Darwinian process.
Converge
means to "tend toward a common result or conclusion
." Biological convergence means "the recurrence
of similar design solutions in different phylogenetic
lineages, despite their absence in a common ancestor" [Gerd
B. Muller and Stuart A. Newman, Origination of Organismal
Form: Beyond the Gene in Developmental and Evolutionary
Biology, (MIT Press 2003)] The eye of an octopus
and that of a vertebrate are extraordinarily similar,
yet they appear to have developed independently without
a common ancestor.
According
to paleontologist Simon Conway Morris, in Life's
Solution (2003), convergence
is ubiquitous - it shows
up everywhere in the history of life - it is the norm
rather than an evolutionary fluke.
As we look
at the data throughout the universe the picture that
emerges
is a number of "design solutions" all
converging on the conclusion that complex life, especially
intelligent life, is rare —even special. The
authors of The Privileged Planet (Regnery, 2004)
bring this to
light.
What
causes this convergence?
Is it actual
intelligence, some yet unexplained law of nature
or a vast number of
extraordinary evolutionary coincidences?
This is the
central question that 19 experts will explore at
DDD V.
The other is whether this fascinating subject is
one that should be hidden from the view of rising young
naturalists that are attending public schools. Should
those institutions seek to inform students about this
intellectually stimulating scientific controversy,
or should they be provided only with a bland diet of
information which supports a naturalistic world view
that happens to support non-theistic religions and
belief systems. A number of educators will discuss
education models that will bring students into the
discussion so that they will truly be informed rather
than indoctrinated and two lawyers will address the
legal issues.
Consistent with objectivity, we will also hear the other
side of the argument - why some think that science education
should exclude critical analysis of evolution and limit
its offering to ideas and theories embraced by recognized
institutions of science.
Plenary Sessions:
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Cosmology converges on design - The Privileged
Planet - Watch the Movie and learn about
the Book (Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, PhD and
philosopher Jay Richards, PhD)
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From goo to you via the zoo - why origin of
life analyses converge on design (biochemist
William S. Harris, PhD.) |
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Convergence and common descent. (Philosopher of
Science, Paul Nelson, PhD) |
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A
new curriculum module for the Cambrian Explosion. (Professor of Natural Science, Michael Keas,
PhD) |
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Why convergence is not consistent with natural
selection (Chemist Fazale Rana, PhD) |
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Evolution
claims that design is an illusion. Why teaching
the scientific disagreement is legal (Law Professor,
David DeWolf, JD) and why officially suppressing
it is illegal (Practicing lawyer, John H. Calvert,
Esq.) |
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The State of the Science: Is ID Making
a Genuine Contribution to Science?
(Mathematician and Philosopher William
Dembski, PhD and Biochemist, Michael Behe, PhD)
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Concurrent
Sessions:
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Convergence:
a biological enigma (Candidate for
doctorate in biology, John Bracht)
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The
New Wave on Campus - Intelligent design clubs on
college campuses around the country are opening
minds and challenging tradition. (Law
student and founder of IDEA Clubs, Casey Luskin)
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Methodological
Naturalism and the Integrity of Science (Research
Scientist Michael Kent, PhD)
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Darwin,
Design and Academic Freedom (Professor
of psychology Harold Delaney, PhD ) |
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Science
Education in Public Schools:
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Science in the classroom - What do
we teach the children? (Biophysical Chemist and Author
of Real Science 4-Kids, Rebecca Keller, PhD) |
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Teach the Controversy:
A Guide to New and Future Curricula (Michael Keas,
PhD, Senior Fellow of Discovery Institute,
Associate
Professor of Natural
Science, Oklahoma Baptist University) |
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A
Workshop for Science Teachers, (Engineer,
Michael Edenburn, MS) |
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A Science Teacher's Perspectives on
the Teaching Origins Science (High
School Science Teacher, Rick Cole, MS) |
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Standards for State Science Education
Standards (Research Scientist and
member of New Mexico Science Writing Committee,
Joseph Renick, MS) |
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The
Opposing View:
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Dave
Thomas, An Opposing View: Top 10 Myths of
the Intelligent Design Movement |
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Evaluations
of our past symposia have been superlative. Presentations
are interspersed with music and laughter and
are designed for students, teachers, school administrators,
parents, and the general public. Come for all
or just part of the day and have a box lunch
with the speakers. |
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