THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY – HONG KONG

presents

“The Galapagos Islands: God or Evolution”

by

Dr. Edward Larson

on

Monday, 10 March 2008

The Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay

6.30pm Drinks Reception; 7.30 pm Lecture

This event is being held in conjunction with the Man International Literary Festival

Please note that tickets for this lecture must be booked in advance by e-mail, but payment is to be made at the lecture

We are delighted to welcome to Hong Kong Dr. Edward Larson to address the Royal Geographical Society on “The Galapagos Islands: God or Evolution”, a subject on which he is considered the world expert. An author of seven books and over one hundred published articles, Dr Larson was the recipient of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in History. In this lecture, Dr Larson presents a voyage to the Origin of Species.

This lecture discusses the history of scientific research on the Galapagos Islands, which provided both the initial inspiration and much of the accumulating evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution and “The Origin of Species”. That theory now serves as the organising concept for all of the biological sciences and provides the basis for modern advances in medicine, agriculture and bio-technology. Yet today, 150 years after the publication of “The Origin of Species”, many people continue to reject Darwinism as incompatible with their idea of God, just as they did in Darwin's day.

Looking at the history of Galapagos research itself, however, reveals a rich interplay of scientific and spiritual thinking in the minds of scientists, and no wholesale rejection of God or the divine for science or the material. There is instead a consiliance that inspired both the science and the spiritual. Through this examination, the Galapagos offers insight into the human condition and our shared global culture.

Dr Larson earned a B.A. from Williams College, a law degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. in the History of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from the Ohio State University. Dr Larson has taught in some 15 universities. Dr Larson is presently Professor of Law and University Professor of History, Pepperdine University, and Russell Professor of History and Talmadge Professor of Law, University of Georgia. Dr Larson was previously Counsel, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education and Counsel, Committee on Education and Labour, U.S. Congress.

Dr Larson is the author of seven books and over one hundred published articles, and writes mostly about issues of science and law from a historical perspective. Dr Larson’s books include “Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory”, “Evolution’s Workshop: God and Science in the Galapagos Islands” and the Pulitzer Prize winning “Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion”. His articles have appeared in such varied journals as “Nature”, “Atlantic Monthly”, “Time”, “Science”, “British Journal for the History of Science”, “Scientific American”, “The Nation”, “Wall Street Journal” and “Isis”.

Dr Larson also teaches, writes and speaks on history, law, science and bio-ethics for academic, professional, and public audiences. Dr Larson has delivered addresses at over 60 universities in addition to giving papers at more than 80 academic conferences throughout the world. Dr Larson is interviewed frequently for broadcast and print media, including multiple appearances on PBS, NPR, the History Channel, C-SPAN, and CNN. Among innumerable awards, The Fulbright Program named Dr Larson to the John Adams Chair in American Studies for 2001, he received the 2000 George Sarton Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was the Founding Member of the International Society for Science and Religion.

Members and their guests are most welcome to attend this lecture, which is HK$100 for Members, and HK$150 for Members' guests and others. Tickets must be reserved by writing to rgshk@netvigator.com.