Press

ALBANY – The New York State Museum has scheduled two additional presentations of a documentary first shown in February that explores both sides of the evolution vs. intelligent design controversy.

“Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus” will be presented on Saturday, March 10 and 24th at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Clark Auditorium.

In the feature-length (85 minutes) documentary, filmmaker and evolutionary biologist Dr. Randy Olson pokes fun at both sides of the ongoing argument between “condescending scientists and extremist intelligent designers.’’ At the same time, the film delves head first into the seriousness of the issue that is at the heart of the current political division.

Olson received his doctorate from Harvard University and went on to build a career as a marine biologist/evolutionary ecologist until the mid 90’s when he decided to pursue a career as a Hollywood director at the University of Southern California’s Graduate School of Cinema/Television. “You Ruined My Career,” a comedy/musical he directed, won multiple awards including one at the Telluride Film Festival. Additional information on the filmmaker and film can be found at www.flockofdodos.com.

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the New York State Department of Education. Founded in 1836, the museum has the longest continuously operating state natural history research and collection survey in the U.S. The State Museum is located on Madison Avenue in Albany. It is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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