Eyes Firmly Shut by Caroline Crocker, PhD

Orange County’s Chapman University has opened an Evolution Education Research Center. Great! Open-minded science research is a good thing. But, is it? Open-minded that is. Listen to the mission: “to improve the teaching and learning of evolution through research.” According to an official from the university, the further purpose of the center is to “combat misconceptions about evolutionary science,” as shown by inviting Humanist and President of the National Center for Science Education, Eugenie Scott, to the opening ceremony.

Brian Alters, a science professor at Chapman, is extremely concerned that only 50% of the American public “believe” in evolution. He states that this could only be for one of three reasons. 1) Scientific illiteracy, 2) Religious illiteracy, or 3) The activity of the “large…powerful…very effective” anti-evoution industry.

Ok, hold on. So, those who question aspects of evolutionary theory are either illiterate or brain-washed? What about the thinking people who are genuinely convinced that there are scientific problems with the theory? An Evolution Education Research Center that is being operated with scientific integrity should not only be investigating the scientific evidence in support of evolution, but also the data that calls the theory into question. After all, one cannot just dismiss the 700+ scientists who have signed the Scientific Dissent from Darwin as illiterate!