3rd International Conference on the Origin of Life and the Universe jointly organized by the Technics & Science Research Foundation, the Foundation For the Preservation of National Values and the National Values Foundation under the Honorary Presidency of Esteemed Adnan Oktar was held this year in Fairmont Quasar Hotel, Istanbul and hosted 8 senior scientists from the USA, Austria and Italy.
The conference held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, where the false claims of the theory of evolution were refuted and the scientific evidence for the Fact of Creation was demonstrated, were attended by 600 valuable guests, including scientists, academics, chancellors, ambassadors, presidents of various institutions and organizations, representatives from the most prestigious universities of Turkey, think tanks, artists, athletes, reputable executives from the business world, journalists and writers.
Presented by Mr. Bülent Özveren, the conference began with the Turkish National Anthem and One Minute of Silence for Our Martyrs. Following Mr. Altuğ Berker’s opening speech, a brief introductory film about Mr. Adnan Oktar, the Honorary President of the Technics & Science Research Foundation, the Foundation For the Preservation of National Values and the National Values Foundation, giving details as to his scientific and cultural efforts, including over 300 books, more than 5000 conferences and documentaries based on his works translated in 73 languages, and over 250 articles published in foreign media organs, as well as live broadcasts.
The scientific conference, which lasted about 9 hours and consisted of 2 separate sessions included following activities:
- 8 foreign scientists with worldwide renown backgrounds discussed the scientific invalidity of the theory of evolution with supporting scientific evidence
- Through the living fossils exhibition, it was demonstrated how all life forms that have been created throughout the history of the earth did not undergo any evolutionary process and how they remained unchanged since the very first moment of their creation
- The film ‘The Origin of Life’ offered a concise view of the signs of God’s Creation observed both in the heavens and the Earth.
The conference, which brought diverse scientific fields together, also featured dance and music shows in spectacle of the various fields of art. After a percussion show and a dance performance by Istanbul Dance Factory, the conference program continued with a luncheon, where the attendees and the prominent figures of the scientific world came together and exchanged ideas in a culturally and scientifically charged atmosphere.
In the Plaque Ceremony held at the end of the conference, the speakers and the honorable guests of the 3rd International Conference on the Origins of Life and the Universe were awarded with plaques by the presidents of the Technics & Science Research Foundation, the Foundation For the Preservation of National Values and the National Values Foundation.
Following are brief biographies of the scientists who attended the conference as speakers:
Anna Manja Larcher
- Larcher is an alumni or graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo Utah, USA, where she has obtained her Masters of Science Degree in Theoretical Psychology.
- She worked closely with Dr. Richard N Williams, the president of the Wheatley Institution for Social and Cultural Research, At Brigham Young University.
- Williams and Ms. Anna are the co-authors of the paper they have exclusively composed for this conference.
- Larcher also has a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from Florida State University, USA where she was a graduate student of Dance and Choreography, wrapping up her many years of professional experience as a Ballet dancer.
- She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
Dr. Bijan Nemati
- Nemati received his Ph.D. in high energy physics from the University of Washington.
- He joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
- He is currently working on telescopes that directly image planets around other stars.
- His areas of expertise include high-precision metrology, stellar astrometry, and the modeling of advanced astronomical instruments.
- He is also the Principal Research Scientist at the Center for Applied Optics in the University of Alabama.
Dr. David Snoke
- Snoke is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Pittsburgh University.
- He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Cornell University in 1983.
- He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois.
- He was an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute between 1990 and 1992.
- He has authored 5 books and published numerous articles.
Fabrizio Fratus
- Fratus is an Italian sociologist and activist.
- His doctoral thesis was on “Scientific Creationism” and “New scientific discoveries about the origin of life and men”.
- He is the founder of the Anti-Evolutionist Committee in Italy.
- He has authored 5 books including “The Lie of Evolution” and “Science and Faith.”
- His activities include raising public awareness about moral corruption in society, the family institution becoming increasingly degraded, and the increasing loneliness of people.
Dr. Fazale Rana
- Rana is the Vice president of Research and Apologetics at Reasons to Believe (RTB), California.
- He graduated with highest honors from West Virginia State College with a BS in Biochemistry and went on to earn a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry from Ohio University, where he was twice awarded the Donald Clippinger Research Award. He pursued postdoctoral studies in the biophysics of cell membranes at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia.
- He writes and speaks extensively about evidence for creation emerging from biochemistry, genetics, human origins, and synthetic biology.
- He also authored 3 books.
- In addition to television and radio interviews, Mr. Rana has given lectures and speeches at over 500 universities, conferences and churches in various places around the world.
Dr. Hans Köchler
- Köchler is the Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
- Köchler is the Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
- His expertise includes phenomenology, existentialism, anthropology, human rights, philosophy of law, theory of international law.
- He authored 29 books along with over 250 published articles.
- He is also among the leading advocates of the rights of depressed countries.
Dr. Kenneth Keathley
- Keathley is the Senior Professor of Theology and the Jesse Hendley Chair of Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
- He is the Director at L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture, a center that seeks to engage culture, present and defend the Christian Faith, and explore its implications for all areas of life.
- He is the co-author of 40 Questions About Creation and Evolution.
- He is also the co-editor of Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation?: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and BioLogos.
Dr. Oktar Babuna
- Babuna is a Neurosurgeon.
- He graduated from Istanbul German High School and Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine.
- He completed his neurosurgery residency at NYU and studied molecular cell biology at UCSF, Department of Medicine and UC Berkeley.
- A9 TV in particular, he appeared on many programs on national and international television channels including CNN, Al Jazeera and BBC.
- He held over 2,000 conferences worldwide.
Prof. Richard N. Williams who worked with Ms. Larcher and has participated in our conference through his article
- Williams received his Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences from Purdue University.
- Williams is a Professor of Psychology and currently Director of the Wheatley Institution at Brigham Young University.
- His scholarly interests include the conceptual foundations of psychological theories and the relationship between traditional and postmodern perspectives.
- He has published over 70 articles in various scholarly journals.
- He has authored one and edited three books.
