Robert T. Pennock is a philosopher working on the Avida digital organism project at Michigan State University where he has been full professor since 2000.
Pennock was a witness in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial,[1] testifying on behalf of the plaintiffs,[2] and described how intelligent design is an updated form of creationism and not science,[3] pointing out that the arguments were essentially the same as traditional creationist arguments with adjustments to the message to eliminate explicit mention of God and the Bible as well as adopting a postmodern deconstructionist language.
[4] Pennock received his Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated summa cum laude.
In 1997, he co-directed a National Science Foundation Chautauqua Workshop on the "Ethical Implications of the Human Genome Project."
[6] Pennock testified as an expert witness at the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District was cited in the concluding memorandum by Judge John E. Jones III as evidence that "Methodological naturalism is a “ground rule” of science today which requires scientists to seek explanations in the world around us based upon what we can observe, test, replicate, and verify" contributing to the conclusion "that ID is an interesting theological argument, but that it is not science".