Some lucky accommodationist is going to pocket one million pounds next week—on Wednesday, when the 2011 Templeton Prize is announced. Templeton’s blurb states that the prize will be announced at 11 a.m. London time on April 6. And it will be given by none other than Prince Philip, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace (oh, how that money corrupts everyone). Given that the award will be made in London, its recipient may well hail from the UK. (Last year’s prize, given to California evolutionist Francisco Ayala, was announced at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D. C.)
We’ve already had a bunch of guesses for the prize in a previous post, but in light of this new information, feel free to guess here as well.
I’d really love the next recipient to turn down the money and expose the organisation for effectively buying lies.
I want some of whatever you’re on…
Given the London location, and his sterling work on the interface between science and faith, I can only guess the recipient will be one Richard Dawkins.
(snicker) That would be awesome, then he could refuse it in public.
I’m sticking with E.O. Wilson, for his scientific stature and almost reluctant atheism.
Ignoring the pomp and circumstance apparently surrounding this event, if E.O. Wilson hasn’t had one yet, I’m going to have to go with him.
One problem with this scenario (which, I know, I share) is that, while promoting conversation, Wilson has explicitly rejected compatibility. From Consilience:
Thanks for that. Hmmm… Strange, then, how he readily courts the evangelicals and already has his hands in the the Templeton money jar.
Prince Charles
Hahahahahahaha
My S.O. told my folks at dinner that Prince Philip is a twit (having worked with him a decade earlier). [A few family members had just remarked on how nice he seems.] I just love the British way of saying what you really think (at least when backed up by evidence).
He is not even British. He belongs to Trine! He was born in Corfu into the ‘Greek’ royal family who were Oldenburgs, really more German than Danish. He is infamous for shooting from the hip –
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1848553.stm
Sometimes it is refreshing, but asometimes not… gaffes? He’s got em!
Oh. My. God. I passing those on to her. It’s worse than I thought.
This week I read an article about him opening a hostel for Deaf youths in the 50s or 60s. He commented on the man translating to sign language, that he would be good as a bookie on a racecourse. (If that is meaninless search Tic-Tac). Not gross but cringe making to someone today if you know Deaf people.
And to a group of Deaf chlldren in Wales near a Jamaican steel band: “If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf.”
He is an oaf, but not apparently gaga yet: he was on TV tonight visitng Wills’ airforce base with Ms Windsor
He and Dubya must’ve been a riot together!
Seriously, I got it: Tony Blair.
Right there with you.
Nah. Fun thought, but no science connection at all.
He did say the word ‘science’ once before though. In public too.
In fact he got the words ‘born-again’, ‘evangelical’ and ‘science’ all into the same talk.
But he also used the words ‘Dawkins’ and ‘Hawking’ approvingly later on in the speech, and I think that’s an automatic disqualifier.
Link to transcript of speech:
http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=Speech&id=4616022
Interesting idea, could well be right.
Anyone out there on ‘Nowak watch’ – has he been seen in the vicimity of the airport?
Hang on – he is already in London…
http://www.thersa.org/events/our-events/supercooperators-the-mathematics-of-evolution,-altruism-and-human-behaviour
Bet you…
Just tried to register & it is already full. He will share with Highfield.
‘Vicinity’ – I really am hopeless. and I will probably miss Caturday felids due to awayness…!
Doesn’t ‘Phil the Greek’ normally present the award every year?
He’s certainly presented it in the past at Buckingham palace so there’s nothing out of the ordinary to hear that he will be doing so again this year (service as usual at Templeton tower).
It just shows what (and who) you can buy when you have a slush fund of several billion dollars available.
With all the Emperor Clothes inspired fashions the red carpet could be awwwesommmmme!
That explains a lot– specifically the following announcement that came to my inbox recently. Competition for the esteemed Templeton Prize must be fierce; I figure one or more of the scheduled speakers are making a stretch run. [Given all the BS that we have to deal with here in the Madison area, do we really need this, too?]
Science and Faith – Saturday, April 2, 9 am—4 pm
Modern Science and Religious Faith: A Thoughtful Partnership
In contemporary culture, science and religious faith are often thought to be unrelated, incompatible or even at odds with each other. Does one have to discard religious faith to engage in science or to adopt a view of the world informed by the best science? How does one reconcile the different views of the world presented by science and the Bible; or are they perhaps less different than we imagine? How does religious faith inform our approach to today’s most pressing issues in science and medicine? In this one-day seminar we’ll explore these questions and more. Topics include:
• Myths in the History of Science and Religion
o Speaker Ronald L Numbers, Professor of History of Science and Medicine at UW-Madison
• Evolution or Creation: a False Dichotomy?
o Speaker: Jeff Hardin, Professor of Zoology at UW-Madison
• Interpreting the Bible’s Creation Stories
o Speaker: Tim Mackie, PhD in Hebrew Bible from UW-Madison and Teaching Pastor at Blackhawk Church
• Faith-Based Approaches to Medical Research
o Speaker: Cynthia Carlsson, Professor of Internal Medicine at UW-Madison
• Faith-Based Approaches to Environmental Ethics
o Speaker: Rick Lindroth, Professor of Ecology at UW-Madison
ICK!!
I wish I could do that in 18-point type.
Well at least that thing is at a church. I was thinking it was at some more neutral venue, or even at the University.
Blackhawk Church. Whatevs.
Naah, London’s just a smokescreen to heighten the surprise when they announce the winner’s a Drosophila geneticist at U Chicago.
Yeah. They’re a clever bunch…
Here’s a dark horse candidate for you: Prof. Marlan Sculley (who has been courting Templeton prize winners for many years and whose scientific credentials are impeccable.)
Errr … I highly doubt Templeton were the ones to corrupt Phil the Bigot. He’s done a pretty good job of that, himself.
Stephen Fuller for his brilliant work supporting the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller, even though he was hired by the defense.
Talk about fair and balanced!
I was so hoping Ricky Gervais would present it.