Sunday night the Inside NGC Blog will be conducting a live-discussion about Evolution.  We have brought together experts in the fields of education, biology, molecular science and theology.  Each expert is well qualified to speak on the topic and will relate their expertise to the modern application of the theory.  And of course are ready to take your questions.

The first member of the the panel to be introduced is Professor Kenneth Miller. Kenneth Miller is Professor of Biology and Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence at Brown University. A cell biologist, he serves as an advisor on life sciences to the NewsHour, a daily PBS television program on news and public affairs, and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Miller is coauthor, with Joseph S. Levine, of four different high school and college biology textbooks used by millions of students nationwide. He has written a number of articles defending the scientific integrity of evolution, answering challenges such as "intelligent design," and in 2005 he served as lead witness in the trial on evolution and intelligent design in Dover, Pennsylvania. His popular book, Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution, addresses the scientific status of evolutionary theory and its relationship to religious views of nature. His latest book, Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul addresses the continuing struggle over how evolution is to be understood in the context of American society.

On why he feels it is important to discuss evolution today.

"The 21st century will be the century of biology. The life sciences will dominate this century as never before - they will shape our lives, revolutionize medicine, and change industry, agriculture, and business. Evolution matters because it is the central organizing principle of biology. A great biologist once wrote that nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution, and he was absolutely right. By denying our children an up to date scientific education, as we would do by watering-down the teaching of evolution, we will cripple them in the world of the future."

Professor Kenneth Miller View of the Key Moments in Evolution

1859 - The publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.

1866 - Publication of Gregor Mendel's paper on plant genetics. His work laid the foundation for the modern science of genetics.

1925 - Scopes trial in Dayton, Tennessee.

2003 - Completion of the human genome project, including abundant data documenting human evolution.

2005 - Kitzmiller trial on the teaching of "intelligent design" in Dover, PA