Kentucky Academy of Science
Kentucky Academy of Sciences (KAS) Resolution In Support of Evolution
At the annual business meeting of the KAS, on November 11, 2005, the KAS
reviewed and reaffirmed past resolutions in support of the teaching of Evolution
and unanimously endorsed the American Association for the Advancement of
Sciences’s "Resolution on Intelligent Design Theory"
The following resolution, already adopted by the Kentucky Academy of Science at the annual business meeting on November 12, 1983, was unanimously approved again at its annual business meeting on November 11, 2005:
The Kentucky Academy of Science is opposed to any attempt by legislative bodies to mandate specific content of science courses. The content of science courses should be determined by the standards of the scientific community. Science involves a continuing systematic inquiry into the manifold aspects of the biological and material world. It is abased upon testable theories which may change with new data; it cannot include interpretations based on faith or religious dogma. As scientists, we object to attempts to equate “scientific creationism” or “intelligent design” with evolution as scientific explanations of events. Teaching faith-based models implies that these views are equivalent alternatives among scientists; doing so would be misleading to students. “Scientific creationism” and “intelligent design” are not equivalent to evolution. There is overwhelming acceptance by scientists of all disciplines that evolution (the descent of modern specifies of animals and plants from different ancestors that lived millions of years ago) is consistent with the weight of a vast amount of evidence. The understanding of the processes underlying evolution has provided the foundation upon which many of the tremendous advances in agriculture and medicine and theoretical biology have been built. Differences among scientists over questions of how evolution was accomplished do not obscure the basic agreement that evolution has occurred.
Most people who subscribe to religious views have developed belief systems that are compatible with evolution. There is a widespread consensus among theologians that biblical accounts of creation are misunderstood if they are treated as literal scientific explanations. We fully respect the religious views of all person but we object to attempts to require any religious teachings as science.
We join the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of science, and the academies of science in many other states in calling for the rejection of attempts to require the teaching of “scientific creationism” and “intelligent design” as a scientific theory.
It is further recommended that the Kentucky Academy of Science encourages its members and other professional scientific groups to give support and aid to those classroom teachers who present the subject matter of evolution fairly and encounter community objection. We also encourage administrators and individual teachers to oppose the inclusion of nonscientific concepts in the science classroom.
Passed KAS Annual Business Meeting, 14 November 1981.
And,
“A Resolution of the Kentucky Academy of Science In Regard to Omitting Evolution Terminology and Teaching in the Public Schools” (1999):
Whereas the Kentucky Academy of Science, founded in 1914, is an organization that encompasses all of the accepted scientific fields, and
Whereas the Scientific Method exemplifies that search for Scientific Understanding, and
Whereas this methodology has consistently provided the means of questioning dogma, authoritarianism, and deliberate deception, by championing the spirit of inquiry based on testing, analysis, honest review, criticism and counter criticism and designs for further testing, and ,
Whereas the advancements of our understanding of the interconnection of the physical properties of our universe coupled with the life forms which together compose our biosphere clearly support that the evolutionary process has functioned and does function in the development, control, and survival of the earth’s living beings, and
Whereas to deny the concepts of the known theoretical basis of the evolutionary process to the education arena of our public schools by avoiding or eliminating from the science curriculum any mention of the term evolution and evolutionary concepts would be an affront to an objective inquiry and the understanding of science,
Thereby be it resolved that the Kentucky Academy of Science, in the strongest and most determined ways possible deplores the decision to substitute “change over time” for “evolution” in the state teaching standards, urges that the original working be reinstated, and decries any attempt to remove the teaching of basic evolutionary theory or any scientific concept that may be test and examined in concert with the basic scientific laws an principles that comprise the Scientific Method, and further more be it resolved that the public supported education systems of the Commonwealth be enhanced with complete support of seeking knowledge by every means possible commensurate with known principles of scientific theory, fact, and understanding.
Adopted by the KAS Governing Board November 6, 1999.
Passed unanimously by KAS membership November 6, 1999.
Both resolutions reviewed and reaffirmed by the KAS membership at the annual KAS business meeting on November 12, 2005.
The KAS also voted to endorse the following AAAS Board Resolution:
AAAS Board Resolution on Intelligent Design Theory
The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust
products of scientific inquiry. It is the foundation for research in many
areas of biology as well as an essential element of science education. To
become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological
world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central
to current scientific understanding.
Over the past several years proponents of so-called "intelligent design
theory," also known as ID, have challenged the accepted scientific
theory of biological evolution. As part of this effort they have sought
to introduce the teaching of "intelligent design theory" into
the science curricula of the public schools. The movement presents "intelligent
design theory" to the public as a theoretical innovation, supported
by scientific evidence, that offers a more adequate explanation for the
origin of the diversity of living organisms than the current scientifically
accepted theory of evolution. In response to this effort, individual scientists
and philosophers of science have provided substantive critiques of "intelligent
design," demonstrating significant conceptual flaws in its formulation,
a lack of credible scientific evidence, and misrepresentations of scientific
facts.
Recognizing that the "intelligent design theory" represents a
challenge to the quality of science education, the Board of Directors of
the AAAS unanimously adopts the following resolution:
Whereas, ID proponents claim that contemporary evolutionary theory is incapable
of explaining the origin of the diversity of living organisms;
Whereas, to date, the ID movement has failed to offer credible scientific
evidence to support their claim that ID undermines the current scientifically
accepted theory of evolution;
Whereas, the ID movement has not proposed a scientific means of testing
its claims;
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the lack of scientific warrant for so-called
"intelligent design theory" makes it improper to include as a
part of science education;
Therefore Be Further It Resolved, that AAAS urges citizens across the nation
to oppose the establishment of policies that would permit the teaching of
"intelligent design theory" as a part of the science curricula
of the public schools;
Therefore Be It Further Resolved, that AAAS calls upon its members to assist
those engaged in overseeing science education policy to understand the nature
of science, the content of contemporary evolutionary theory and the inappropriateness
of "intelligent design theory" as subject matter for science education;
Therefore Be Further It Resolved, that AAAS encourages its affiliated societies
to endorse this resolution and to communicate their support to appropriate
parties at the federal, state and local levels of the government.
Approved by the AAAS Board of Directors on 10/18/02