DATE: 21^st JUNE 2002

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

Schull Planetarium, Schull, Co. Cork today announced the third in its annual Millennium Lecture series. The successful lectures of the past two years are to be followed by a series of four lectures entitled "In the Beginning", delivered by Mark Sweetnam, Senior Lecturer at the Planetarium. The lectures hope to examine Creationist theories about the origins of our Universe.

"This is an area of science that has been attracting increasing scientific interest in the United States, and more recently in the Britain," says Mark Sweetnam, who has an active interest in developments in the area of cosmology. "While the rush to validate the Big Bang Theory left many regarding more traditional Creationist views as outmoded and outdated myth, recent discoveries have questioned the validity of the Big Bang model, and have led to a much heightened interest in Creationism, and the cosmological debate. This is an interest that has been evidenced in many lively debates at regular Planetarium shows, and the debate is one that amply deserves the fuller discussion permitted by a dedicated lecture series."

The intended programme of lectures is as follows:

Thursday, 18th July:

This lecture will attempt to examine the scientific credentials of cosmology, and to enquire whether theories about the origins of our universe are science or philosophy.

Thursday, 25^th July:

How do creationist scientists account for the Earth’s origins? Is Creationism a valid scientific approach, or an intrusion of religion on science?

Thursday, 1^st August

What is the present status of the Big Bang theory? What issues are leading scientists to question its validity? Is it a useful model of our Universe?

Thursday, 8^th August

How old is our world? Why does it matter?

Each of the above will follow the scheduled 8 p.m. Starshow, and will last approximately 45 minutes. Each lecture will close with a period of questions and discussion. Ticket prices for the lectures will be the same as those for regular shows, and tickets can be booked by contacting the Planetarium, where staff recommend advance booking, to avoid disappointment.

In keeping with Schull Planetarium’s commitment to bringing astronomy to the widest possible audience, the lectures will be pitched at a level accessible to the general public, and will avoid excessively complex material.

As the lecturer responsible for co-ordinating the series, Mark Sweetnam says that he looks forward to a good level of interest, and a lively debate centred on Creation. He is available to discuss the Planetarium, the lectures, or any astronomy-related issues at any time. The number for press liaison is 086 304 2561 (not for publication).