Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 27, 2000

Volume 29, Number 8

Symposium will explore the claim that there
is an 'intelligent design' to the universe

Scholars from the United States and Europe will present evidence that the universe and human life are intelligently designed in a three-day symposium taking place Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 2-4.

During the event, titled "Science and Evidence for Design in the Universe," scientists will examine research in such disciplines as astronomy, biology, philosophy, physics and paleobiology to explore whether intelligent design theory provides a "viable and scientifically responsible paradigm" for the understanding of the origin and complexity of the universe. The symposium is cosponsored by Rivendell Institute for Christian Thought and Learning, the Discovery Institute, the Yale Law School Forum on Cultural and Academic Freedom, and Yale Students for Christ.

"From the origins of modern science until the 19th century, many scientific disciplines incorporated the concept of intelligent design," symposium organizers wrote in publicity material for the event. "With the ascendancy of the belief in an eternal and self-existent universe, and such materialistic theories as Darwin's theory of evolution, scientific evidence for design seemed to dissipate. Recently, however, an increasing number of scientists are discovering fresh evidence that the universe and life may, after all, bear the marks of intelligent design."

Several of the speakers at the symposium, including Michael Behe, Phillip Johnson and William Dembski, have appeared in the national media as spokespersons for intelligent design theory. Among the topics they and other scientists will address are "The Future of the Past: Where are Studies on the Origin of Life Taking Us?," "Thermodynamics and the Origins of Life," "Can an Inflationary Many-Universes Hypothesis Explain Fine-Tuning?" and "The Fine-Tuning of the Universe and Cosmic Design."

The event includes three evenings of plenary sessions intended for a general audience, as well as two afternoons of breakout sessions directed to highly specialized audiences. Each of the presentations will be an original paper to be submitted for publication to a collection of essays in a forthcoming book.

The event is free for members of the Yale community. For further information, call David Mahan, director of the Rivendell Institute at (203) 773-1991 or send email to 74152.1761@CompuServe.com.

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