The Well Christian Club at UCR invites you to the debate of the year as two leaders in science and biology square off to debate the question "Are natural processes sufficient to explain the origin and the complexity of the cell?"
This debate will be held at 7 pm on Thursday, May 16th at the UCR Student Rec Center in the gymnasium. We expect overflowing crowds, so make sure you get your tickets early! TICKETS:
The event is free for all UCR students, staff, and faculty with a valid UCR ID. Students from institutions other than UCR will receive the discounted price of $5.00 per ticket. General admission for all others is $10 per ticket. You may purchase your tickets below beginning April 12. Because seating is limited, we recommend that you purchase your tickets early. For students, you must show your student ID at the door the day of the event in order to be admitted. FORMAT
Opening Arguments: 20 minutes each
1st Cross-Examination: 6 minutes each side
Rebuttals: 10 minutes each
2nd Cross-Examination: 6 minutes each side
Concluding Arguments: 5 minutes each
Q &A: 40 minutes
We will also be taking questions from the audience via Twitter and SMS. SPEAKERS
MICHAEL RUSE, PHD - AFFIRMATIVE POSITION
Michael Ruse, philosopher and historian of science, was awarded an MA in philosophy from McMaster University in 1964. He returned to Bristol for his doctoral work and was awarded a PhD in 1970 for his dissertation, “The Nature of Biology.” He taught at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, from 1965 to 2000. Since 2000, Professor Ruse has served as Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. In addition to many edited volumes, his books include The Philosophy of Biology (1973), Sociobiology: Sense or Nonsense? (1979; 2nd ed. 1984), The Darwinian Revolution: Science Red in Tooth and Claw (1979; 2nd ed. 1999), Darwinism Defended: A Guide to the Evolution Controversies (1982), Taking Darwin Seriously: A Naturalistic Approach to Philosophy (1986),Monad to Man: The Concept of Progress in Evolutionary Biology (1996), Can a Darwinian Be a Christian?: The Relationship between Science and Religion (2001), and Darwin and Design: Does Evolution Have a Purpose? FAZALE RANA, PHD - NEGATIVE POSITION
Fazale "Fuz" Rana discovered the fascinating world of cells while taking chemistry and biology courses for the pre-med program at West Virginia State College (now University). As a presidential scholar there, he earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry with highest honors. He completed a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry at Ohio University, where he twice won the Donald Clippinger Research Award. Postdoctoral studies took him to the Universities of Virginia and Georgia. Fuz then worked seven years as a senior scientist in product development for Procter & Gamble. Dr. Rana has authored and coauthored the books Origins of Life, Who Was Adam? and, most recently, The Cell's Design. Additionally, Fuz has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, Biochemistry, Applied Spectroscopy, FEBS Letters, Journal of Microbiological Methods, and Journal of Chemical Education. He has made presentations at numerous international scientific meetings, coauthored a chapter on antimicrobial peptides for Biological and Synthetic Membranes, and holds two patents. CRAIG HAZEN, PHD - DEBATE MODERATOR
Craig J. Hazen is the Director of the M.A. Program in Science and Religion and a Professor of Comparative Religion and Christian Apologetics at Biola University. He is also the Founder and Director of the Master of Arts Program in Christian Apologetics. In addition, he is the editor of the journal, Philosophia Christi, one of the top circulating philosophy of religion journals in the world. He did his doctoral work in Religious Studies at the University of California where he focused on the historical interaction of science and religion. Hazen holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Religious Studies, a B.A. in Biological Sciences, and has studied at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. His academic work has been recognized with multiple awards for excellence from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Religion.
