(Posted April 1, 2003)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- A philosophy professor from Michigan State University will present a talk on how complex biological systems evolve over time at 7 p.m., Friday, April 4 in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center on the Juniata campus.

Robert Pennock, author of the book "Tower of Babel: Evidence Against the New Creationism," will present a talk titled "Evolving Irreducibly Complex Systems."

The lecture is the third and final lecture in Juniata's Science and Religion Lecture Series. Sponsored by the Templeton Foundation and the Juniata College J. Omar Good Fund, the talk is free and open to the public.

Pennock will discuss how the theory of intelligent design -- which theorizes that the molecular systems of the cell are far too complex to explain just by using random mutation and natural selection -- is wrong. Pennock will cite new experimental research that uses digital organisms to allow observation of how complex systems in nature evolve over time.

Pennock is associate professor of philosophy at Michigan State University. His areas of interest are in the philosophy of science and ethical values in science. He has lectured on science and values at colleges and universities nationwide, and was named a national Distinguished Lecturer by Sigma Xi, the scientific research society.

He recently published the book "Intelligent Design Creationism and its Critics: Philosophical, Theological and Scientific Perspectives," a comprehensive source book on the intelligent design movement. He currently is writing a book that examines how Darwinian evolution can be applied in areas beyond biology.

He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and philosophy from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. and a doctorate in history and the philosophy of science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.