stand up for REAL science

In a recent press release, the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) described the results of a survey of 464 biology and biological anthropology faculty members from 50 Texas colleges and universities.

The results do not look good for anti-evolutionists on the Texas Board of Education.

The TFN grouped the findings into 5 broad categories:

1. Texas Scientists Overwhelmingly Reject Intelligent Design as Valid Science

2. Texas Science Faculty Insist That Neither Intelligent Design Nor Creationism Be Taught in Science Classes

3. Scientists Reject Teaching the So-Called 'Weaknesses' of Evolution

4. Texas Science Faculty Believe that Emphasizing 'Weaknesses' of Evolution Would Substantially Harm Students' College Readiness and Prospects for 21st-Century Jobs

5. Texas Scientists Strongly Believe that Support for Evolution Is Compatible with Religious Faith

The full report (pdf) is quite informative. For me, the most striking statistic was that 94% of respondents indicated that claimed "weaknesses" are not valid scientific objections to evolution. Only 4% agreed that they were valid and 2% were not sure.

I liked the way one respondent put it:

There aren't many (or maybe no) weaknesses in the basic tenets of evolution. It happens, it is the way the world of living things works, and presenting ideas as "weaknesses" distorts the truth. To be sure, there are areas and mechanisms left to be discovered, but the basic foundation is as solid as the sunrise.

- Professor at University of North Texas

As solid as the sunrise, huh?

Kind of like the support of Texas scientists for REAL science.