Life's origins 'too deep for science to explain'

A leading scientist who worked on last month's controversial Big Bang experiment said during a talk in Dubai that there was no conflict between religion and science.

DUBAI // A leading scientist who worked on last month's controversial Big Bang experiment in Switzerland said during a talk in Dubai that there was no conflict between religion and science. John Ellis, a senior theoretical physicist with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, said the answer to how life began on the planet was too "profound" for science to answer. He was one of eight speakers at the Bold Talks event, moderated by the television presenter Riz Khan, at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre.

Closing yesterday's event was a speech from Steve Sosebee, who founded the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. The Bold Talks were founded by Tamer Nahas, a Dubai-based businessman, who wanted to host the event to foster meaningful dialogue in the local community. "I wanted people to open their minds and challenge themselves, so I decided to bring these speakers here," he said. "It is the first of a long line of events I am planning for Dubai to get people talking. I want to bring about change."

Mr Nahas, 34, a Palestinian Bosnian, gave up his job in events management to host yesterday's event. @Email:[e-mail]