[Last Visible Dog]

Interesting. They decide to spend some money to direct more research in yet another frontier of science (in an area which every mainstream biologist freely acknowledges is a frontier), and you interpret this as a sign of panic somehow.

Actually jennyp, it was the Boston Globe's interpretation:

The initiative begins amid increasing controversy over the teaching of evolution, prompted by proponents of ''intelligent design,"...

[Fester Chugabrew]

it was the Boston Globe's interpretation:

age-old questions that are central to the debate over the theory of evolution.

[jennyp]

Actually jennyp, it was the Boston Globe's interpretation:

The initiative begins amid increasing controversy over the teaching of evolution, prompted by proponents of ''intelligent design,"...

They were engaging in something called "irony". It is ironic that they are going to push the boundaries of knowledge further out at the same time that the forces of ignorance are trying to gain the upper hand in the schools.