UW-Madison students and faculty members gathered to listen to Dr. Francisco Ayala speak about revolutions in science and their effect on human nature in a lecture Monday.
Ronald Numbers, a UW-Madison professor of the history of science and medicine, introduced Ayala, author of Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion,"" as one of the world's best-known and most distinguished scientists.
Ayala started his lecture by explaining the two great scientific revolutions conducted by Nicolas Copernicus and Charles Darwin.
""Copernicus changed the perception that we had of the earth of being the center of the universe '¦ similar to Darwin that removed humans from being the center of the real world,"" he said.
According to Ayala, Darwin's theory is significant in explaining evolution but is also important because it solidified pre-existing theories.
""Although Darwin is primarily known as the author of evolution, it was not his most important contribution to studies - it was that he completed the Copernican revolution by bringing the design of the universe organisms,"" he said.
Ayala emphasized Darwin's theory of natural selection and how it better explains the theory of evolution in comparison to intelligent design.
""[Darwin's theory of natural selection] can prove reality that can be experienced by the senses, that can be tested in experiments and can be classified and identified,"" he said.
Ayala denounced the theory of intelligent design, citing the theory as an ""imperfect design."" He claimed human imperfections like the human jaw, birth canal and forelimbs pose certain challenges to human beings.
UW-Madison junior Jennifer Myers said she disagreed with Ayala because she does not think science and religion are mutually exclusive.
""They could be [correlated] if religion didn't make scientific claims but I do not think that there is a mutually agreeable solution yet,"" she said.
However, Tyle Giles, a UW-Madison graduate student, said he found the lecture helpful in clarifying theories that are relevant to society today.
""I think it was helpful for people that do not have background of theory of evolution, molecular biology,"" he said.
Ayala said Darwin's natural selection proves evolution by natural processes because it is the completion of a theory, which can be used to explain the occurrence of natural disasters and can give space to religion.
