Acclaimed author discusses ‘God Delusion’ at UAF

By SUZANNA CALDWELL - FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
Updated: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:41:40 UTC

Acclaimed evolutionary biologist, writer and atheist Richard Dawkins will give a free lecture at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Thursday, thanks to the bold thinking of one student.

Simon Suchland had been discussing Dawkins with the Socratic Society, a recently rebooted UAF club with about 25 philosophy students. They had been trying to gain more recognition for the club and their department by inviting philosophy and psychology professors to give lectures.

In 2009, after consulting with Eduardo Wilner, philosophy professor and club adviser, Suchland contacted the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to ask for tips on how to show the relevance of critical thinking (a cornerstone of Dawkins’ theories) in a campus setting.

Instead of receiving a quick reply, Suchland received much more. Elisabeth Cornwell, the foundation’s executive director, contacted Suchland and told him that Dawkins had never been to Alaska and was interested in visiting. She told him that Dawkins was booked through the rest of 2009, but to contact her in a few months and they would try to plan for a summer visit.

He did, they settled on July, and now Dawkins is on his way.

The free lecture is titled “Is Religion a Darwinian Adaptation? Or is it Intelligently Designed?” Dawkins also will visit UAF faculty members to learn about their research. He will document the visit with a photographer and videographer, with media from the visit being posted on the foundation’s website. The lecture also will be available via live webcast.

The goal of the foundation is to promote scientific education, critical thinking and evidence-based understanding of the natural world in a “quest to overcome religious fundamentalism.”
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What: Richard Dawkins lecture, “Is Religion a Darwinian Adaptation? Or is it Intelligently Designed?”

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: UAF Davis Concert Hall

Tickets: Free

Information: Webcast link will be available at www.uafnews.com/webcasts
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