This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7619670.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Creationism' biologist quits job | 'Creationism' biologist quits job |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Professor Michael Reiss has quit as director of education at the Royal Society following the controversy over his recent comments on creationism. | Professor Michael Reiss has quit as director of education at the Royal Society following the controversy over his recent comments on creationism. |
| Last week Prof Reiss - a Church of England minister - said creationism should be discussed in science lessons if pupils raised the issue. | Last week Prof Reiss - a Church of England minister - said creationism should be discussed in science lessons if pupils raised the issue. |
| He was criticised by other scientists - though misquoted as saying creationism should be "taught" in science classes. | He was criticised by other scientists - though misquoted as saying creationism should be "taught" in science classes. |
| The society said some of his comments had been "open to misinterpretation". | The society said some of his comments had been "open to misinterpretation". |
| This had damaged its reputation. | This had damaged its reputation. |
| 'Not scientific' | 'Not scientific' |
| "As a result, Professor Reiss and the Royal Society have agreed that, in the best interests of the society, he will step down immediately as director of education - a part-time post he held on secondment," it said in a statement. | "As a result, Professor Reiss and the Royal Society have agreed that, in the best interests of the society, he will step down immediately as director of education - a part-time post he held on secondment," it said in a statement. |
| "He is to return, full time, to his position as professor of science education at the Institute of Education." | "He is to return, full time, to his position as professor of science education at the Institute of Education." |
| The Royal Society reiterated that its position was that creationism had no scientific basis and should not be part of the science curriculum. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| I believe the Royal Society should have supported him and used this opportunity to further a reasoned debate Roland JacksonBritish Association for the Advancement of Science | |
| It added that the society greatly appreciated the efforts of Prof Reiss, a biologist, in furthering its work in the important field of science education over the past two years and wished him well for the future. | It added that the society greatly appreciated the efforts of Prof Reiss, a biologist, in furthering its work in the important field of science education over the past two years and wished him well for the future. |
| Creationists take a literal interpretation of the Bible's description of the origin of life and reject the Darwinian concept of evolution. | Creationists take a literal interpretation of the Bible's description of the origin of life and reject the Darwinian concept of evolution. |
| Prof Reiss, speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool, estimated that about one in 10 children was from a family which supported a creationist rather than evolutionary viewpoint. | Prof Reiss, speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool, estimated that about one in 10 children was from a family which supported a creationist rather than evolutionary viewpoint. |
| He said his experience had led him to believe it was more effective to include discussion about creationism alongside scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution - rather than simply giving the impression that such children were wrong. | He said his experience had led him to believe it was more effective to include discussion about creationism alongside scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution - rather than simply giving the impression that such children were wrong. |
| Misconceptions | |
| Reacting to his stepping down, Lord Robert Winston, professor of science and society at Imperial College London, said: "I fear that in this action the Royal Society may have only diminished itself. | Reacting to his stepping down, Lord Robert Winston, professor of science and society at Imperial College London, said: "I fear that in this action the Royal Society may have only diminished itself. |
| "This is not a good day for the reputation of science or scientists. | "This is not a good day for the reputation of science or scientists. |
| "This individual was arguing that we should engage with and address public misconceptions about science - something that the Royal Society should applaud." | "This individual was arguing that we should engage with and address public misconceptions about science - something that the Royal Society should applaud." |
| Roland Jackson, chief executive of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, said Mr Reiss's departure was a "real loss". | |
| "I was at the actual discussion and what I heard him say , however it has been reported, was essentially the position advocated by the Royal Society," he said. | |
| Mr Jackson said the organisation "should have supported him and used this opportunity to further a reasoned debate". | |
| Professor Chris Higgins, vice-chancellor of the University of Durham, said: "There should be no room for doubt creationism is completely unsupportable as a theory, and the only reason to mention creationism in schools is to enable teachers to demonstrate why the ideas is scientific nonsense and has no basis in evidence or rational thought." |