Welcome
to...
The Public is invited...
to our Second Annual observance of Darwin Week in the Holy City of
the South. On Monday we'll hear from a Paleontologist who is married to a
Presbyterian minister1. On Thursday, we'll hear from a Presbyterian
minister who is married to a Biologist2. Between the two
we'll host our keynote Paleoanthropologist (on Darwin's Birthday itself)
and a Astronomer well known throughout the Charleston scientific community.
All Talks are Scheduled...
for 4:30 pm in Room 123 of the College of Charleston Science Center,
at the corner of Coming and George Streets. Each talk will be followed
by an opportunity to meet the speaker over refreshments. Birthday cake on Tuesday! All talks are
free - no admission fee charged.
Check out this line-up!
Monday, Feb 11 - Dr. Patricia Kelley
Evolution and Creation: Conflicting or Compatible?
Dr. Kelley will argue that evolution is the only viable scientific explanation
for the history of life. To understand that statement, we will consider
what is meant by science (in contrast to religion), fact, theory, and evolution.
An overview of the evidence (including fossil data) and mechanisms for evolution
will be given. The talk will conclude with discussion of the Biblical
accounts of creation and will reflect on ways of reconciling faith and scientific
issues. Dr. Patricia Kelley is Chair of the Department of Earth
Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, as well as President
of the Paleontological Society. Her research focuses on fossil mollusc
evolution.
Tuesday, Feb 12 - Dr. William L. Jungers
Evolution and Extinction on the Great Red Island of Madagascar.
If Darwin had visited the Island of Madagascar, he no doubt would have been
influenced in the same way as he was by the Galapagos. On Madagascar
an extraordinary "laboratory experiment" in evolution and adaptation has taken
place, affecting the diversity of all kinds of plants and animals. Our
relatives, the lemurs, have evolved into a wide range of species adapted to
ecological niches as diverse as woodpeckers and sloths. Dr. William
Jungers is a Professor in the Department of Anatomy at the SUNY Stony
Brook School of Medicine. He has worked for over 25 years on the functional
anatomy and behavior of Malagasy primates as well as our early African human
ancestors.
Happy Birthday C.D.!
Wednesday, Feb 13 - Dr. Robert J. Dukes
The New Cosmology: The Past and Future of the Universe as a Home for Life.
We can trace the history of the universe back to a infinitesimal fraction
of a second after the creation event. In doing this we discover the
origin of all of the chemical elements which make up our bodies. In
the last ten years we have again discovered the validity of J.B.S. Haldane's
statement: "the universe is not only stranger than we imagine it to be, it
is stranger than we can imagine it to be." In this talk Dr. Dukes will
discuss briefly the origin and evolution of the universe and the chemical
elements. He will explore the conditions required for life-bearing planets
to exist and finally explore the future of the universe as a home for life.
Dr. Robert J. Dukes, Jr. is Associate Dean of Sciences and Mathematics,
and Professor of Physics and Astronomy, at the College of Charleston.
Thursday, Feb 14 - Dr. Daniel W. Massie
Christianity and Science - In Search of Common Ground
While in some limited quarters of Christendom, scientific advance and new
discoveries might be greeted with suspicion or rejection, that is not the
case with most Christians or most Christian bodies, who often view science
as a gift of God. Indeed, Dr. Massie will argue that religion and science
are not at odds with each other, should not dismiss out of hand the contributions
of the other, and in fact should seek and recognize common interests and
common ground. They best serve their own ends by listening to and learning
from each other. Dr. Daniel W. Massie is Senior Minister of
First (Scots) Presbyterian Church in Charleston. A native of Mississippi,
he holds degrees from Belhaven College, Lees-McRae College, and Union Theological
Seminary. He has also studied at New College, Edinburgh, Princeton
Theological Seminary, and the Tantur Ecumenical Center of Jerusalem.
See you There!
1Patricia Kelley's husband, Jonathan, is the pastor of Southport
Presbyterian Church, Southport, NC.
2 Danny Massie's wife, Tita, teaches in the Biology Department
at the College of Charleston, and coordinates the Lowcountry Science Fair.