Distinguished professor Niall Shanks dies Distinguished professor Niall Shanks dies

Niall Shanks, the Curtis D. Gridley Distinguished Professor in the History and Philosophy of Science, died Wednesday morning (July 13) following a lengthy illness. He was 52. Shanks came to Wichita State July 31, 2005. Memorial service pending.

Professor Shanks received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the University of Leeds in 1979, a master's in philosophy from the University of Liverpool in 1981, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Alberta in 1987.

Shanks was the author of several books and numerous articles in the history and philosophy of science. He was the author of "God, the Devil, and Darwin: A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory" (Forward by Richard Dawkins, Oxford University Press, 2004/2007).

Shanks' research interests focused on evolutionary biology and its implications for medical theory and practice.

Professor Shanks was also the vice president of Americans for Medical Advancement, and past president of the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Along with medical doctor Ray Greek, Shanks was the author of "Animal Models in the Light of Evolution" (Brown Walker, Boca Raton, Fl, 2009), and "FAQs about the Use of Animals in Science: A Handbook for the Scientifically Perplexed" (University Press of America, 2010).