I’ve got to pay attention to the good news more often. My in-box is full of comments about anti-evolution, creationist legislation, but I missed this one: Louisiana SB70 is an anti-creationist bill that “Repeals the Louisiana Science Education Act.” Zack Kopplin has a website combating creationism that focuses on the rational Louisianians and what they’re doing to bring reason to the state.
I’ll call your attention to one notable fact: they’ve got 75 Nobel laureate scientists to endorse this law. If you know a science laureate who hasn’t signed the petition — I noticed a few names missing myself — you might mention it to them.
Nice to see the scientific community fighting back.
Science education should be balanced by anti-science education, math by anti-math, and reading by anti-reading.
How else are children going to receive a complete education?
Glen Davidson
I’m not sure what value the Nobel Prize winners bring to the table. Most of the south thinks they dabble in black magic and that scientists are tools of satan.
The religious mind is big on arguments from authority. Nobel prize winners are considered authorities on science.
It’s such a double-edged sword, though. Leads to creationists similarly pointing at authorities who buy into the god-who-died-for-you-somehow-but-not-really story.
Probably they’d do that anyway, I suppose.
Hey, that reminded me of those Teach the Controversy images.
Might work for those on borderline. I would argue that individual creationism/evolution belief/acceptance lies on a spectrum. A couple of Nobel Laureate might nudge some of them into evolution side. Besides, creationists already use the “pointing at authority” arguments, might as well counter that.
Just one correction PZ, last years bill was SB 70, this year it’s SB 374:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=779058
Interestingly enough, there are endorsements from Ken Miller and Francisco Ayala but not from Francis Collins.
Did Mr Raccoon sign?
I don’t see Tom Cech on the list. His parents were close friends of my parents (while they were still with us). Unfortunately I don’t have contact information for Tom.
He won his Nobel back in the 80s, IIRC, and was head of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for many years.