Posted on 01/30/2006 6:37:02 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
ITHACA, N.Y. -- You say you want an evolution? Cornell University and the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) will honor Charles Darwin Feb. 9-13 in a series of joint events that will mark the first official Darwin Day celebration for the Ithaca community.
Darwin Day, in existence since 2000, is an international celebration of Darwin's birthday (February 12) with a focus on the science and humanism that specifically relate to the work of Darwin, who remains controversial 150 years after the publication of his Origin of the Species. The year 2009 is the bicentennial of Darwin's birth and the sesquicentennial of the revolutionary book's first publication.
Events include panel discussions on the future of Darwinism in America and on the state of evolutionary biology; family activities at the Museum of the Earth; a lecture on teaching evolution and creationism; and films, including a new documentary on the controversy over intelligent design and a showing of the classic Inherit the Wind.
"Darwin Day is increasingly becoming a global phenomenon," said Warren Allmon, PRI director and adjunct associate professor at Cornell. "By collaborating on this celebration as well as the statement we issued in late December with the Cornell faculty on the Dover verdict, PRI and Cornell are assuming a greater role in educating the public about evolution and why it matters."
Hunter Rawlings, Cornell's interim president, in October made a strong statement decrying "the challenge to science posed by religiously-based opposition to evolution is described in its current form as 'intelligent design.'" He added, "This controversy raises profound questions about the nature of public discourse and what we teach in universities, and it has a profound effect on public policy."
The schedule for Darwin Day weekend events follows:
* Thursday, Feb. 9 -- "Where Do We Go From Here? The Future of Darwinism in American Society," at the Museum of the Earth, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. This panel discussion, moderated by Cornell Provost Biddy Martin, will examine the impact of the recent Dover decision on the future of Darwinism. Panelists include Cornell faculty members Barbara Crawford, Sheila Ann Dean, Bruce Lewenstein, and Steven Shiffrin; and Janet Shortall, associate director of Cornell United Religious Works. Seating is limited, call (607) 273-6623, extension 33 for tickets.* Friday, Feb. 10 -- "Evolutionary Biology: Present and Future," Uris Hall Auditorium, Cornell campus, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Moderated by Stephen Kresovich, vice provost for life sciences with Cornell faculty members Richard Harrison, Amy McCune, Kern Reeve, Steve Tanksley and Mariana Wolfner.
* Friday, Feb. 10 -- "Inherit the Wind" (1960) Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Harry Morgan, Claude Akins and Norman Fell star in this classic film based on the 1925 Scopes monkey trial, a case about a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution. Warren Hall Auditorium, Cornell campus. 7 p.m - 9p.m.
* Saturday, Feb. 11 -- "Evolution and Creationism: An Educator's Guide to Evolution," Ray VanHoutte Classroom, Museum of the Earth, Noon-1 p.m. PRI director Warren Allmon will present the Natural History at Noon lecture.
* Saturday, Feb. 11 -- Darwin-related family activities that will engage visitors through games and demonstrations, utilizing museum exhibits and live specimens, including snakes courtesy of the Cayuga Nature Center. Museum of the Earth, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
* Sunday, Feb. 12 -- Special advance screening of the new film, "Flock of Dodos: the Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus," (2006) Filmmaker and biologist Randy Olson's new documentary probes the great communication struggle between evolution and intelligent design being waged in today's mainstream media. Olson will introduce the film and hold a discussion after the showing in David L. Call Alumni Auditorium, Kennedy Hall, Cornell campus, 7-9 p.m. Free.
* Monday, Feb. 13 -- "Evolution -- Why Bother?" a feature film made by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Panel discussion with Ithaca College faculty follows the film. Clark Lounge, Egbert Hall, Ithaca College. 3 p.m.-5 p.m./p>
Bumper upper.
Before the Creationists took over, Darwin's birthday was a public holiday in the United States.
When was that?
The last I time I looked, there was no prayer in public schools, "intelligent design" was taught in very few places, and more and more merchants were banning "Christmas" from their holiday vocabulary.
Those "cunning" creationists...so stealthy in their "takeover" that they actually made it look like religion was being excised from public life.
ahhh, but will they have any mention of all the Geniuses that committed suicide at BigRed by jumping off the bridge??? the Rich Intelligentsia doing a little self cleaning of the gene pool as it were... the Peoples DemocRATic Republic of Ithaca EVIL!!!
They have their own holidays? Sounds more like a religion than a science....
Anyone hear that woman from Ithica on Limbaugh Friday afternoon? Ithica is moonbat mecca. I used to live 35 miles from Cornell and needed to occassionally visit the engineering/math libraries for research purposes.
Everytime I left that place I felt like I had been soiled and needed to shower.
Is there some significance to Darwin Day being for 5 days?
Sinclair Lewis kept returning to the theme of boosterism in his books.
Warren Allmon, PRI directorDid somebody say PRI?
Maybe I should add a darwin fish next to the waterfall "I"?
Nah. That would be too busy.
Archive?
LOL
Since Darwin as well as all the early evolutions were Marxists and Atheists, its seems fitting for Ithaca to have this celebration.
We couldn't have a religious Christmas party in my high school, so the physics teacher had a Newton's Birthday Party (he was born on Dec 25). We made apples and apple products (including semi-hard cider) the theme.
Darwin was a Whig politically, and either Agnostic or Deist (I've seen both claims supported) spiritually.
Let's see. Various organizations get together to promote science and intelligent thought in general. It's pretty typcial in Ithaca: people spend lots of time and energy to offer an opportunty for kids and adults to do some thinking and learn a thing or two.
Basically, folks in this forum are grasping to find a political significance here.
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