Creationism plea professor resigns
Updated on 17 September 2008
A leading biologist and education expert has resigned from his senior post at the Royal Society days after calling for creationism to be included in science lessons.
The Rev Professor Michael Reiss stepped down as the Royal Society's director of education, and in a statement the society said his comments had damaged its reputation.
Speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool, earlier this week, Prof Reiss - an ordained Church of England minister - said it was better for science teachers not to see creationism as a "misconception" but as a "world view".
Around 10% of British schoolchildren come from families with sincere creationist beliefs, Prof Reiss had said, In the US, the proportion of creationist schoolchildren was 40%.
Some creationists reject the concept of evolution and suggest that the Earth is only 10,000 years old.
The Royal Society said Prof Reiss' departure was agreed by both sides to be in the best interests of the venerable institution, the UK's national academy of science.
"The Royal Society's position is that creationism has no scientific basis and should not be part of the science curriculum," the statement read.
"However, if a young person raises creationism in a science class, teachers should be in a position to explain why evolution is a sound scientific theory and why creationism is not, in any way, scientific."
The statement went on to thank Prof Reiss for his efforts as director of education.
Professor Richard Dawkins, a fellow of the Royal Society and outspoken opponent of creationism, said the society's policy of "accommodationism" - a standpoint which seeks to "respect" creationism while disagreeing with it - had made Prof Reiss's position problematic.
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