100 Scientists, National Poll Challenge Darwinism

U.S. Newswire ^ | 9/25/2001 | Mark Edwards, Discovery Institute

[I_Publius]

100 Scientists, National Poll Challenge Darwinism

U.S. Newswire
25 Sep 9:30
100 Scientists, National Poll Challenge Darwinism

To: National Desk, Science and Education and Media reporters
Contact: Mark Edwards,
206-292-0401, ext. 107,
medwards@discovery.org
or Greg Piper,
206-292-0401, ext. 126,
gpiper@discovery.org
both of the Discovery Institute;
Web: www.discovery.org

SEATTLE, Sept. 25 /U.S. Newswire/
-- In an ironic greeting to the seven-part public television series "Evolution" that began last night, 100 scientists have declared that they "are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life." The signers say, "Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged."

Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based public policy center, compiled the list of statement signers (available at www.reviewevolution.com). Among other things, the long list may help to answer the contention of designated spokespeople for the series "Evolution" that "virtually all reputable scientists in the world" support Darwin's theory. Institute officials charge that officials of WGBH/Clear Blue Sky Productions have used that contention to keep any scientific criticism of Darwinism from being acknowledged or examined in the eight-hour series. "They want people to think that the only criticism of Darwin's theory today is from religious fundamentalists," said Discovery president Bruce Chapman. "They routinely try to stigmatize scientists who question Darwin as 'creationists.'"

Chemist and five time Nobel nominee, Henry "Fritz" Schaefer of the University of Georgia, commented on the need to encourage debate on Darwin's theory of evolution. "Some defenders of Darwinism," says Schaefer, "embrace standards of evidence for evolution that as scientists they would never accept in other circumstances." Schaefer was on the roster of signers of the statement, termed "A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism."

"The number of scientists who question Darwinism is a minority, but it is growing fast," said Stephen Meyer, a Cambridge-educated philosopher of science who directs the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture at Discovery Institute.

Signers of the statement questioning Darwinism came from throughout the United States and from several other countries, representing biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, geology, anthropology and other scientific fields. Professors and researchers at such universities as Princeton, MIT, U Penn, and Yale, as well as smaller colleges and the National Laboratories at Livermore, California and Los Alamos, New Mexico, are included. A number of the signers have authored or contributed to books on issues related to evolution, or have books underway.

Zogby Poll on Evolution

Meanwhile, a Zogby poll released yesterday shows overwhelming public support -- 81 percent -- for the position that "When public broadcasting networks discuss Darwin's theory of evolution, they should present the scientific evidence for it, but also the scientific evidence against it." Only 10 percent support presenting "only the scientific evidence that supports" Darwin's theory. (Less than 10 percent said "Neither" or "Not sure.")

"Public television producers are clearly at odds with overwhelming public sentiment in favor of hearing all scientific sides of the debate," said Chapman, a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau. "The huge majorities in the poll cross every demographic, regional and political line in America." The national sample of 1,202 adults was conducted by Zogby International from August 25-29. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.0 percent.

Full results of the Zogby poll also are available on the website www.reviewevolution.com.

KEYWORDS: SCIENCE, EDUCATION, MEDIA -0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 09/25 09:30 Copyright 2001, U.S. Newswire

[Virginia-American]

The limbs are similar (eg five fingers), both being derived from ancestral reptilian limbs, but you're right, they are adapted for flight in different ways. Presumably a Designer would have a single plan for wing. Or maybe not. (I really love Creationists asking for predictions from evolutionists when their own theory seems a little short in that department)