March 4, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Fern Caka
(801) 318-3148
UVSC’s Science Café Series will present “The Compatibility of Faith and Science: Mormonism and Evolution” on March 8 at 2 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Orem.
“Dr. Bill Evenson and Dr. Duane Jeffery will discuss how science arrives at knowledge of the world around us and how to evaluate the validity of scientific claims. They will also discuss how religious faith can work in concert with science. They will review specifically the scientific status of evolution and how official statements from LDS leaders have left question of evolutionary science open while reaffirming faith in God,” said Fern Caka, associate professor of chemistry.
Evenson and Jeffery have collaborated for many years to help people studying science understand that they can accept the facts and ideas of science while retaining strong faith. In 2005, they co-authored a book titled, “Mormonism and Evolution: The Authoritative LDS Statements.”
Evenson recently retired as the associate dean of science and health at UVSC. Prior to his work at UVSC, he was professor of physics, associate academic vice president, dean of the college of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and dean of general education at BYU. He has active research collaborations with scientists in Germany, China and several universities in the U.S.
Jeffery is a geneticist and a professor of biology at BYU. He designed the first evolution course in the BYU biology curriculum and still teaches evolution and history and philosophy of biology there. He has received numerous teaching awards, including Honors Professor of the Year and the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award. Jeffery has a long-running weekly science column in the Provo Daily Herald. He has published professionally in various biological journals as well as on matters of Mormonism and science. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Science Education.
The event is free and open to the public. People may purchase food and drink from the Barnes and Noble café if they wish. The Science Café is made possible by a grant from UVSC and the American Chemical Society.
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College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Lisa Rose
(801) 863-8504