AAS Evolution Statement

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: fyi () aip org
Date: September 28, 2005 1:06:09 PM EDT
To: farber () CENTRAL CIS UPENN EDU
Subject: FYI #140: AAS Evolution Statement
Reply-To: fyi () aip org


FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 140: September 28, 2005

Astronomical Society Speaks Out on Teaching of Intelligent Design

On September 26, the first court case challenging the
constitutionality of teaching Intelligent Design in public school
science classes opened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  In Kitzmiller
v. Dover, the Dover Area School District is being sued by eleven
parents over a science curriculum policy that states, in part,
"Students will be made aware of gaps/problems in Darwin's Theory and
of other theories of evolution including, but not limited to,
intelligent design."

In related news, the Council of the American Astronomical Society
(AAS), a Member Society of the American Institute of Physics, has
adopted a new statement on the teaching of evolution and intelligent
design.

"Since 'Intelligent Design' is not science, it does not belong in
the science curriculum of the nation's primary and secondary
schools," the AAS statement declares.  While "evolution is a valid
scientific theory," the statement says, "'Intelligent Design' fails
to meet the basic definition of a scientific idea: its proponents do
not present testable hypotheses and do not provide evidence for
their views that can be verified or duplicated by subsequent
researchers."

Robert Kirshner of Harvard University, the President of AAS, said in
a press release that "Science teachers have their hands full
teaching the things that we actually know about the world we live
in.  They shouldn't be burdened with content-free dogma like
Intelligent Design."  Former astronaut George Nelson, the Education
Officer for AAS, added that "Anti-science movements like Intelligent
Design, however disguised, seriously undermine the already difficult
task of educating the next generation to be science literate.  And a
science literate citizenry is necessary if America is to continue to
thrive."

The full text of the statement, which was released on September 20,
follows:

"American Astronomical Society Statement on the Teaching of
Evolution
"20 September, 2005

"The American Astronomical Society supports teaching evolution in
our nation's K-12 science classes.  Evolution is a valid scientific
theory for the origin of species that has been repeatedly tested and
verified through observation, formulation of testable statements to
explain those observations, and controlled experiments or additional
observations to find out whether these ideas are right or wrong.  A
scientific theory is not speculation or a guess - scientific
theories are unifying concepts that explain the physical universe.

"Astronomical observations show that the Universe is many billions
of years old (see the AAS publication, An Ancient Universe, cited
below), that nuclear reactions in stars have produced the chemical
elements over time, and recent observations show that gravity has
led to the formation of many planets in our Galaxy.  The early
history of the solar system is being explored by astronomical
observation and by direct visits to solar system objects. Fossils,
radiological measurements, and changes in DNA trace the growth of
the tree of life on Earth.  The theory of evolution, like the
theories of gravity, plate tectonics, and Big Bang cosmology,
explains, unifies, and predicts natural phenomena.  Scientific
theories provide a proven framework for improving our understanding
of the world.

"In recent years, advocates of 'Intelligent Design,' have proposed
teaching 'Intelligent Design' as a valid alternative theory for the
history of life.  Although scientists have vigorous discussions on
interpretations for some aspects of evolution, there is widespread
agreement on the power of natural selection to shape the emergence
of new species.  Even if there were no such agreement, 'Intelligent
Design' fails to meet the basic definition of a scientific idea: its
proponents do not present testable hypotheses and do not provide
evidence for their views that can be verified or duplicated by
subsequent researchers.

"Since 'Intelligent Design' is not science, it does not belong in
the science curriculum of the nation's primary and secondary
schools.

"The AAS supports the positions taken by the National Academy of
Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science,
the National Science Teachers' Association, the American Geophysical
Union, the American Chemical Society, and the American Association
of Physics Teachers on the teaching of evolution.  The AAS also
supports the National Science Education Standards: they emphasize
the importance of scientific methods as well as articulating
well-established scientific theories.

"References Cited
The Ancient Universe:  How Astronomers Know the Vast Scale of Cosmic
Time.   Published by the American Astronomical Society.
It is also available as a PDF on the Society's webpages at
http://www.aas.org/education/publications/AncientUniverseWeb.pdf ."

###############
Audrey T. Leath
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi () aip org  www.aip.org/gov
(301) 209-3094
##END##########

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