K-State's Center for the Understanding of Origins to sponsor roundtable discussion

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Source: Center for the Understanding of Origins, 785-532-1644
http://www.phys.ksu.edu/~origins/
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415

Thursday, March 31, 2005

K-STATE'S CENTER FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF ORIGINS SPONSORING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON SCIENCE AND CREATION

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Center for the Understanding of Origins is sponsoring a roundtable discussion, "Science and Creation: Views From People of Faith," from 3-5 p.m. Monday, April 4, at Dole Hall.

Six panelists and two moderators will take part in the discussion, which will be in a moderated question-and-answer format for its first hour and an extended period afterward for questions from the audience to the panelists.

The roundtable is free and open to the public; however, due to limited seating, admission tickets are required. Tickets may be requested through noon April 4 by contacting the Center for the Understanding of Origins at 785-532-1644 or nidhim@k-state.edu.

The event also will be videotaped for broadcast later on Cox Cable's channel 8 in Manhattan, Ogden and Junction City. Scheduled broadcast times are 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7; 7 p.m. Sunday, April 10; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 13. The Kansas Regents Educational Communications Center in Dole Hall is producing the event.

Moderators will be James Coffman, provost emeritus and professor of clinical sciences at K-State, and Tom Grimes, associate professor of journalism and mass communications at K-State's A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The panelists, who have diverse backgrounds in science and religion, include John Carlin, the Rev. David Jones, Keith Miller and Subarat Muthukrishnan, all of Manhattan; and Rabbi Larry Karol and Ali Khan, both of Topeka.

Carlin earned advanced degrees in philosophy and theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary and Catholic University. Now retired, he lectures frequently on ethics and theology.

Jones is a pastor for K-State's Ecumenical Campus Ministry. He earned a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University and is ordained in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. He has held several academic appointments throughout his career in addition to his pastoral duties.

Miller, an evangelical Christian, is a research assistant professor of geology at K-State. He has published numerous articles concerning the compatibility of science and religion. He recently edited "Perspectives on an Evolving Creation," a work that addresses evolutionary theory from scientific, historical, philosophical and theological perspectives.

Muthukrishnan is a professor of biochemistry at K-State and has more than 40 years of experience in molecular biology. A native of Madras, India, he is a practicing Hindu.

Karol has led Temple Beth Shalom in Topeka since 1984. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He serves the Jewish communities of both Topeka and Manhattan, and is involved with a variety of community service activities in northeast Kansas.

A professor of law, Khan has taught international law and human rights at Washburn University's School of Law for the last 22 years. A native of Pakistan, he has been contacted frequently by area media for comments on relations between the Islamic world and the West. His latest book advances the thesis that terrorism "is a bleeding pathology of the nation-state."