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April 25, 2008

Biology department spring seminar to feature expert in intelligent design creationism movement May 2

The ULM Department of Biology has one scheduled educational seminar remaining during the spring 2008 semester, set for Friday, May 2, at 1 p.m. in the Chemistry and Natural Science Building, room 101. Barbara Forrest of Southeastern Louisiana University will speak about “What is intelligent design? Why should you care?”

Forrest, a professor of philosophy in the history and political science department at Southeastern Louisiana University, is a nationally renowned expert in the area of the nature and strategy of the intelligent design creationism movement.

She is the co-author with Paul R. Gross of “Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design” (Oxford University Press, 2004; 2007, second edition), which details the political and religious aims of the movement.

She served as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the first legal case involving intelligent design, Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District, which originated in Dover, Pa., and was resolved with a judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in December 2005.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Science Education and the Board of Trustees of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. She has appeared on “Larry King Live,” ABC's “Nightline,” and the BBC's “Horizon” documentary about the intelligent design creationism issue, "A War on Science."

She was also featured on the PBS “Nova” documentary about the Kitzmiller trial, "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial," which aired on November 13, 2007, and received a Peabody Award as one of the best electronic media productions of 2007.

Her radio interviews include NPR's “Science Friday” with Ira Flatow and Americans United's “Culture Shocks” with Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

She is the 2006 co-recipient with Brown University cell biologist Kenneth Miller of the American Society for Cell Biology's Public Service Award, whose previous recipients include U. S. Sen. Arlen Specter and actor Christopher Reeve.

For more information, contact ULM’s Dr. Chris Gissendanner at: (318) 342-3314 or at gissendanner@ulm.edu.

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