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Home / Education / Children & Families / Darwin2009
Darwin2009 Houston
The Houston Museum of Natural Science isn’t the only science institution celebrating a milestone this year: 2009 is also the bicentennial anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his On the Origin of Species.
Darwin2009 Houston honors these two immensely significant anniversaries with a year-long celebration of Darwin’s life, his contribution to science, and continuing developments in scientific knowledge.
Learn more about Charles Darwin and his famous idea in HMNS Curator of Anthropology Dirk Van Tuerenhout’s Darwin2009 post, “An ‘Aha!’ Moment Worth Celebrating,” on the HMNS blog, BEYONDbones.
Darwin2009 events are planned at organizations throughout Houston, including here, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Upcoming Darwin2009 Events at HMNS
Is Genomics Finally Coming to You?
Richard Gibbs, Ph.D., Baylor Genome Sequencing Project
Tuesday, August 25, 6:30 p.m.
The international Human Genome Project deciphered the basic building blocks of life. Now, armed with the knowledge of the reference genome sequence, a plethora of new discoveries and drug developments have been initiated. New methods have been developed for even faster genome sequencing of individuals and are being directed toward rapid diagnosis of genetic conditions. The foremost of these is characterization of cancer, since new tumors can be tested to identify common alterations in the DNA that can guide therapy or else help to monitor the disease. At the current rate of development, we can expect complete genome DNA sequencing to be a routine part of medicine within three years.
Richard Gibbs is the Founder and Director of the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, in Houston, Texas. In addition to the genome projects, Gibbs oversees BCM-HGSC’s development of innovations in ‘mutation discovery’ which has implications in medical conditions from cancer to bipolar/manic depressive illness. This lecture is sponsored by Darwin2009 Houston.
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Evolution of Creationism
Eugenie Scott, Ph.D., National Center for Science Education
Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m.
From creationism to creation science to intelligent design to the present day “evidence against evolution” approach, antievolutionists have consistently changed their strategy in response to legal decisions. Evolution traditionally has been presented as weak or invalid science, and as incompatible with Christian faith. Currently, the teaching of antievolutionary ideas in science class is framed as having pedagogical value – yet there is little academic value in teaching as science ideas that are not scientific. These culture wars are too frequently brought into the classroom, hampering the science education of the next generation of Americans.
Dr. Eugenie Scott is the executive director of National Center for Science Education, a nonprofit that supports evolution in science education. She began her career as a physical anthropologist. She has been both a researcher and an activist in the creationism/evolution controversy for over twenty-five years. This March, Dr. Scott addressed the Texas Board of Education in Austin when they met to revise science standards. This lecture is sponsored by Darwin2009 Houston.
Following the program, Dr. Scott will sign copies of her books Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction and Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design is Wrong for Our Schools.
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Evolution and Faith: What Is at Stake
John Haught, Ph.D., Georgetown University
Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m.
Darwin challenges religious trust in a providential God who purposefully creates, influences and eternally cares for the world. Our religious ancestors did not have our knowledge of biological evolution, though they were certainly aware of the suffering of humans and other living beings. Darwinian science, however, vastly extends the story of life’s suffering – and creativity as well – beyond that of traditional theological awareness. In what sense, then, after Darwin, might we still trust in divine providence, if at all? Is it perhaps possible that evolutionary portraits of life may open up fresh ways of thinking about God and cosmic purpose? After Darwin can we have a plausible understanding of God that is both consistent with traditional belief and adequate to the reality of evolution?
Sponsored by the University of St. Thomas Center for Faith and Culture and the Doherty Library at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in conjunction with Darwin2009 Houston.
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