Kenneth R. Miller
Born 1948
Nationality United States
Fields Biology
Institutions Brown University
Alma mater Brown University
University of Colorado at Boulder
Notable students Craig Mello
Religious stance Roman Catholic

Kenneth R. Miller (born 1948) is a biology professor at Brown University. Miller, who is Roman Catholic, is particularly known for his opposition to creationism, including the intelligent design movement. He has written two books on the subject. The first, Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution, argues that a belief in evolution is compatible with a belief in God. In Only a Theory, his second on the subject, explores ID and the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District as well as its implications in science across America.

Contents

Biography

Kenneth Miller graduated from Rahway High School in Rahway, New Jersey before going on to attend Brown University. Miller received his Sc.B. in Biology from Brown University in 1970 and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Colorado in 1974.[1] From 1974 to 1980, he taught at Harvard University. His research involves problems of structure and function in biological membranes, often involving electron microscopy.

Science advocacy

Miller has proudly voiced his support for what he calls "pro-science" candidates in politics. He has actively campaigned for school board and education candidates who support the teaching of evolution in Kansas and Ohio. In the science community, he has sought to elevate the understanding of scientists of the roots of the creationist movement, and to encourage the popularization of scientific concepts.

Miller has appeared in court as a witness, and on panels debating the teaching of intelligent design in schools. In 2002, the Ohio State Board of Education held a public debate between two scientists, including Miller, and two proponents of intelligent design.[2] He testified for the plaintiffs, but only as a fact witness not as an expert, in Selman v. Cobb County, testing the legality of stickers calling evolution a "theory, not a fact" that were placed on the biology textbook Miller authored. In 2005, the judge ruled that the stickers violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution[3][4]. This decision was vacated on appeal because of missing records of the previous trial. The case was remanded for additional evidentiary inquiry and new findings, and a list of factual issues that the court would probably want to address included as item 15 a reference to Miller's testimony regarding “the colloquial or popular understanding of the term [theory]” and the suggested question as to whether he has any qualifications to testify as an expert on the popular meaning of the word "theory".[5] The case was remanded back to the lower court and was eventually settled out of court. Miller was also the plaintiff's lead expert witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, challenging the school board's mandate to incorporate intelligent design into the curriculum. The judge in that case also ruled decisively in favor of the plaintiffs.

In 2006 the American Society for Cell Biology gave him a Public Service Award.[6] The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) also recognized Miller for his contribution to the public education of evolution in the United States. Miller also appeared at the 2006 Dwight H. Terry Lectureship at Yale, delivering a lecture entitled "Darwin, God, and Dover: What the Collapse of 'Intelligent Design' Means for Science and for Faith in America."

Miller is popularly known for his appearances on The Colbert Report.[7][8] Most recently Miller was interviewed in June 2008 on The Colbert Report discussing his latest book Only a Theory.[9]

He also speaks at conferences, notably the Skeptics Society's "Origins Conference" in October 2008 with Nancey Murphy, Hugh Ross, Leonard Susskind, Sean Carroll, Paul Davies, Christof Koch, Nancey Murphy, Donald Prothero, and Victor J. Stenger.[10]

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ken Miller: Molecular, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry", Brown University (2008). Retrieved on 17 June 2008. 
  2. ^ Ken Miller. "Goodbye, Columbus<". http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/debate.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-20. 
  3. ^ "Victory in Cobb County". National Center for Science Education. January 13, 2005. http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2005/GA/201_victory_in_cobb_county_1_13_2005.asp. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.  January 13, 2005
  4. ^ "Judge: Evolution stickers unconstitutional". CNN. January 14, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/13/evolution.textbooks.ruling/index.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-20. 
  5. ^ Selman, et. al. vs. Cobb County Board of Education May 25, 2006
  6. ^ Forrest, Miller to receive ASCB Public Service Awards ASCB Newsletter, July 2006. Note: slow link
  7. ^ Chaz Firestone (2007-09-20). "Prof. Ken Miller: life as science's media darling". Brown Daily Herald. http://media.www.browndailyherald.com/media/storage/paper472/news/2007/09/19/CampusNews/Prof-Ken.Miller.Life.As.Sciences.Media.Darling-2977311.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-09-20. 
  8. ^ "Ken Miller on Science Friday and Colbert Report", National Center for Science Education (June 13, 2008). Retrieved on 18 October 2008. 
  9. ^ "Ken Miller", The Colbert Report (June 16, 2008). Retrieved on 17 June 2008. 
  10. ^ "Origins Conference October 3–4, 2008", Skeptics Society (2008). Retrieved on 10 October 2008. 

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_R._Miller"

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