Brown University professor to speak on if there is room for God in the evolutionary process

Kenneth R. Miller, professor of biology at Brown University, will give a talk entitled, "Darwin and the Divine: Is There Room for God in the Evolutionary Process?" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Pellegrene Auditorium, Saint John's University.

Miller will also take part in a panel discussion with Noreen Herzfeld, professor of computer science and theology at CSB/SJU. They will be interviewed by Gary Eichten '69, Minnesota Public Radio news editor-at-large and retired host of the "Midday" program, at noon Wednesday, March 25, at Art Center room 102, SJU.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Miller's talk will be a discussion regarding the tendencies of evolutionary science being at loggerheads with religion. Miller will set fourth his own ideas about increasing public understanding of science with the knowledge that evolution can be seen as a result of God's creative work.

Miller is a cell biologist and molecular biologist who is the 2006 winner of the American Society for Cell Biology Public Service Award; the 2011 winner of Stephen Jay Gould Prize from the Society for the Study of Evolution; and the 2014 winner of the Laetare Medal. He is a Catholic who believes God and Darwin's Theory of Evolution can co-exist. He is the author of two books on the matter, entitled "Finding Darwin's God" and "Only a Theory."

The Nicholas and Bernice Reuter Professor in Science and Religion, the College of Saint Benedict Koch Chair in Catholic Thought and Culture and the Moral Theology Lecture Series are sponsoring both events.