23 American Scientists Join Debate on Evolution and Society
Alexandria, Egypt (17 November) – To celebrate Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of the Species, the British Council and the New Bibliotheca Alexandrina have brought together 140 academics, science communicators and media from over 30 countries to debate Darwin’s legacy at a conference from November 14 to 16.
Sessions at Darwin’s Living Legacy include cutting-edge research in genomics and epigenetics to debates on how best to tackle the issues surrounding evolution and education, faith and science, which have been widely reported in the press recently.
“It is incredible that this conference is taking place in Egypt,” commented conference participant Salman Hameed, an American astronomer and Assistant Professor of Integrated Science and Humanities at Hampshire College whose blog Irtiqa, Urdu for evolution, tracks the intersection of science and religion, particularly in the Muslim world. ”I don't know what will be the reaction here. Simply by its location, it may remove some of the stigma regarding evolution in the Muslim world.”
The twenty-three American conference speakers include Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education; Dr. Janet Browne, Harvard University Aramont Professor of the History of Science and author of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin; and Dr. Jared Diamond, UCLA Geography Professor and Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.
Charles Darwin is celebrated as one of the greatest scientists of all time, with his work forming the foundation of many different research fields, and yet his ideas still stir up debate. The conference will explore Darwinism in context and promote an informed dialogue about evolutionary science, grounded in a mutual respect for differences in ideas, cultures and religious beliefs.
“I am delighted that the British Council has organized the conference in Egypt, bringing together so many different perspectives on Darwin’s theories,” said Sharon Memis, Director British Council North America. “At the British Council, we have found that the exchange of knowledge is an excellent way to bring people together across cultures, and I look forward to following what kind of dialogue and long-term partnerships emerge from this conference.”
The Egypt conference is a part of the British Council’s global Darwin Now project, which has produced an innovative series of events and research throughout 2009. In June, a British Council survey on attitudes toward evolution found that a global majority accepts Darwin’s theory of evolution. In the United States, the British Council has brought the Darwin Now exhibit to museums, libraries, and universities in Chicago, San Diego, and Washington, DC.
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About the British Council: The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international non-profit organization for cultural relations and education opportunities. We build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. In the US, we increase recognition of the wide range of learning opportunities available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and facilitate educational cooperation between the US and UK. Through transatlantic artistic partnerships, we introduce the American public to high-quality, groundbreaking creative achievements from the UK, and our science programs build networks that draw upon the UK's innovation in climate change and other disciplines. We also develop initiatives that give a voice to the next generation of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, encouraging them to work together to explore solutions to current and future global issues.
CONTACT: Samantha YaleThe United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
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