^{Date
Mar262026
March
03
Mar
26
26
2026

Time
09:30AM

Locale
Spokane, WA

Venue
Great Northern University at Fourth Memorial Church

Register

Register}

Not Just Any Animal — Intelligent Design Education Day (Spokane)

Discovery Institute is pleased to announce that our annual Intelligent Design Education Day is returning to Spokane, Washington with thanks to our hosts at Great Northern University.

The question at hand this year: Are humans merely another species in the animal kingdom? We share many physical traits, instincts, and even genetics with our fellow creatures. But is that all there is to it? Are we simply an unintended evolutionary branch on the great tree of life?

This year’s theme — Not Just Any Animal — will argue that humans are much more than just one of the 8+ million unique animal species on planet Earth. Our intelligence, creativity, rationality, and spirituality transcend any biological classification and confer unique rights and responsibilities.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, it is fitting that we consider the scientific evidence for human uniqueness that, in part, inspired the founders to write in the Declaration of Independence that it is “self-evident” that humans are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”.

Join us on Thursday, March 26, to explore this important theme. The event is open to all ages but designed especially for middle school and high school students in home or private school settings. Take advantage of this field trip opportunity for students to meet and interact directly with scientists and scholars. There will be lots of audience participation, opportunities to win prizes, and additional resources to explore at the bookstore.

The goal of this annual event is to introduce students to the concept of intelligent design, to share recent scientific findings, and to think critically about the evidence (or lack thereof) for Darwinian evolution. In the panel Q&A, students will be encouraged to engage with our presenters on the broader implications of their presentations on culture and worldview, thereby helping them develop critical thinking skills and (in many cases) bolster their faith.

When

Thursday, March 26, 2026
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Where

Great Northern University
at Fourth Memorial Church
2000 N Standard St.
Spokane, WA 99207

Contact

Kate Kavanaugh
eventbrite@discovery.org
(206) 826-5532

Tentative Schedule

8:30 am	Doors open for check-in
9:30 am	Welcome & introductions Wendy Liddell, President (Great Northern University) Daniel Reeves, Director of Education & Outreach (Center for Science & Culture)
9:45 am	Intelligent Design at American’s Founding (Video)
9:55 am	Not Just Any Animal — How Science (Still) Supports Human Exceptionalism Daniel Reeves, Director of Education & Outreach
10:10 am	Activity and break
10:30 am	Not Just Another Ape — How Genetics Reveals Human Uniqueness Casey Luskin, Geologist & Managing Director (Center for Science & Culture)
11:00 am	Activity and lunch break
12:00 pm	Secrets of the Human Body — The Immortal Mind (Video)
12:15 pm	Not Just A Big Brain — How Neuroscience Reveals the Human Mind Michael Egnor, Neurosurgeon
12:45 pm	Activity & break
1:00 pm	Not Just a Machine — How Robotics Helps Us Appreciate Our Own Design Gabriel Nelson, Robot Scientist
1:30 pm	Ask a Scientist (Panel Q&A)
2:00 pm	Dismissal (bookstore open until 2:30 pm)

Speakers

Michael Egnor

_{Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, State University of New York, Stony Brook}

Michael R. Egnor, MD, is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at State University of New York, Stony Brook, has served as the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and is an award-winning brain surgeon. He was named one of New York’s best doctors by the New York Magazine in 2005. His book, The Immortal Mind: A neurosurgeon’s case for the existence of the soul, co-authored by Denyse O’Leary, was published by Worthy on June 3, 2025.

Casey Luskin

_{Associate Director, Research Director, and Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Culture}

Casey Luskin is a geologist and an attorney with graduate degrees in science and law, giving him expertise in both the scientific and legal dimensions of the debate over evolution. He earned his PhD in Geology from the University of Johannesburg, and BS and MS degrees in Earth Sciences from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied evolution extensively at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. His law degree is from the University of San Diego, where he focused his studies on First Amendment law, education law, and environmental law.

Gabriel Nelson

_{Research Lead, Robotics and AI Institute}

Gabe Nelson is a Research Lead at the Robotics and AI Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has been working in robotics for over 33 years and has a PhD in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering. He spent 17 years at Boston Dynamics leading the controls development of several generations of bipedal, quadrupedal, and wheeled robots. He has also worked as a subcontractor on the Tesla biped and was the Chief Scientist at Figure AI. His main ongoing interests focus on understanding the control of dynamic balance in both humans and robots.

Daniel Reeves

_{Director, Education & Outreach, Center for Science and Culture}

Daniel Reeves is Director of Education & Outreach with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. He holds a BA in Biology with additional graduate studies in Zoology. Before joining Discovery Institute, Daniel has engaged in both field and laboratory research for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture. He also has a passion for education, and has taught science in both museums and public schools.