Tough stand on creationism

British biologists look worryingly at the developments on the issue of creationism and intelligent design in the US, where constant pressure from powerful conservative Christian groups seeks to continue to set a scientific alternative to evolution. There is wider support for evolutionary theory in the UK, but creationists are pushing their agenda there: lavish textbooks have been sent to schools from an unknown source advocating intelligent design and creationism. There are some academic advocates and several Moslem groups back the ideas. It was then perhaps no surprise that Britain’s science academy, the Royal Society, reacted quickly when media reports appeared claiming that its director of science education had suggested that science lessons should tackle the issue of creationism. Michael Reiss had been speaking at Britain’s annual science festival in Liverpool. He expressed his concern that around one in ten children come from families with creationist beliefs. “My experience after having tried to teach biology for 20 years is if one simply gives the impression that such children are wrong, then they are not going to learn much about the science,” he said. Reiss, who is an ordained Church of England minister, told the meeting that science teachers should not see creationism as a “misconception” but as an alternative “world view”. He added that he was not advocating that The Royal Society acted swiftly to defend perceived damage to its reputation. Nigel Williams reports. Tough stand on creationism