The Conflict between Science and Religion: A Report from the Front Lines

On Sunday morning, January 11, 2009, at Adas Israel's Gewirz Hall, Dr. Alan I. Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science will present on the topic "The Conflict between Science and Religion: A Report from the Front Lines." Dr. Leshner has been a leading spokesperson in responding to the efforts to bring “Creation Science” into the public school science curriculum. Dr. Leshner will speak about his experience in this struggle and its implications. His presentation will be followed by a discussion.

Dr. Alan Leshner is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, "triple A-S") and Executive Publisher of the journal Science. Before coming to AAAS, Dr. Leshner was Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1994 until 2001. Previously, he had been the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Leshner is a member (and on the governing Council) of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science. President Bush appointed Dr. Leshner to the National Science Board in 2004.

The Institute for Science and Judaism is committed to expanding our understanding of the interface between science and Judaism, including how science can expand our spiritual horizons and its philosophical and educational implications.. For more information, visit scienceandjudaism.blogspot.com.

The program, which is free of charge, begins at 10:30 a.m., and is preceded by brunch at 10:00 a.m. The brunch is $10 per person. RSVP by Wednesday, January 7, to Marcia Miller, marcia.miller@adasisrael.org or 202-362-4433 ext. 112.