[NHCOLL-L:2690] News Article - US National Academies fights evolution controversy

[Tim Gamble]

I thought some members of this group might be interested in this news 
article, from Reuters:

US National Academies fights evolution controversy

June 10, 2005

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The National Academies, the flagship of U.S. science, 
said on Friday it had set up a Web site to battle attempts to portray 
evolution as mere speculation about how life developed on Earth. 

The Web site, http:/nationalacademies.org/evolution/, carries links to 
various reports on evolution, which some U.S. religious groups want to be 
taught in schools only if their own views of a divine creator get equal 
credence. 

"The theory of evolution is one of science's most robust theories, and the 
National Academies have long supported the position that evolution be taught 
as a central element in any science education program," the Academies said 
in a statement. 

"Over the past several years, however, there has been a growing movement 
around the country to include non-scientifically based 'alternatives' in 
science courses," it added. 

"Currently there are challenges to the teaching of evolution in some 40 
states or local school districts." 

Some of these are detailed by the National Center for Science Education, a 
non-profit organization dedicated to keeping evolution in public school 
education, at its Web site, http:/ncseweb.org. 
The National Academies is an independent organization that routinely 
provides guidance on scientific, medical and engineering questions to the 
federal government and other groups that may ask them. 

 (c) Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. 

-- 
Tim Gamble

Charlotte, NC
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