Buehler? Buehler?
I just watched the trailer for Ben Stein's movie "Expelled." Oh boy. I am wondering what impact the release of this movie is going to have on my class this semester, so I figured that since I have no intention of actually seeing the film, I better find out what I can about it. In my searching, I found this interesting comment: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/08/im_gonna_be_a_movie_star.php#more
I also found an interesting article on the NCSE (National Center for Science Education) website about a former post-doc at Woods Hole who was suing the institution for firing him due to his beliefs in intelligent design (or, rather, his non-acceptance of evolution). It raises an interesting question. Should our personal, religious beliefs be reason for losing a job or not being hired? Generally speaking, of course not. However, as a scientist working in a lab that is researching evolutionary biology - well, if you don't accept the major tenets of the work then of course you shouldn't be there. Here's the thing, people talk about both sides in terms of "belief" and that misrepresents the debate. When we say that someone "believes" in evolution, we put evolutionary theory on the same plane as intelligent design or creationism when, clearly, they belong in two very different spheres. Evolution is not about belief, it isn't about faith - it's about evidence. It's about a scientific theory that has mounds of supporting evidence, and very little dissent within the scientific community. I wouldn't hire a biologist who didn't accept evolution in the same way that I wouldn't hire an astronomer who didn't accept that the Earth revolves around the sun. Are there debates within evolutionary biology? Hell, yes! That's what makes science so much fun. But the debates are about mechanism and process, not about the fundamental tenet of change over time.
I need to do a better job teaching evolution this semester. When I graded my finals, I found that my students had a very poor understanding of natural selection. I am hoping to figure out how to explain it better this semester. Frankly, if they learn nothing but that in my class I would be satisfied.
I also found an interesting article on the NCSE (National Center for Science Education) website about a former post-doc at Woods Hole who was suing the institution for firing him due to his beliefs in intelligent design (or, rather, his non-acceptance of evolution). It raises an interesting question. Should our personal, religious beliefs be reason for losing a job or not being hired? Generally speaking, of course not. However, as a scientist working in a lab that is researching evolutionary biology - well, if you don't accept the major tenets of the work then of course you shouldn't be there. Here's the thing, people talk about both sides in terms of "belief" and that misrepresents the debate. When we say that someone "believes" in evolution, we put evolutionary theory on the same plane as intelligent design or creationism when, clearly, they belong in two very different spheres. Evolution is not about belief, it isn't about faith - it's about evidence. It's about a scientific theory that has mounds of supporting evidence, and very little dissent within the scientific community. I wouldn't hire a biologist who didn't accept evolution in the same way that I wouldn't hire an astronomer who didn't accept that the Earth revolves around the sun. Are there debates within evolutionary biology? Hell, yes! That's what makes science so much fun. But the debates are about mechanism and process, not about the fundamental tenet of change over time.
I need to do a better job teaching evolution this semester. When I graded my finals, I found that my students had a very poor understanding of natural selection. I am hoping to figure out how to explain it better this semester. Frankly, if they learn nothing but that in my class I would be satisfied.