Wednesday, July 12, 2006
British Academics and Dissent from Darwinism - The List Grows
I note with interrest from the latest update of the 'Scientific Dissent From Darwinism', organized by the Discovery Institute, that at least 20 of the now 610 (and rising) signatories are from scholars at, or hold degrees from, British Universities (or, in one instance, who work at the British Museum of Natural History). The Dissent reads: "We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged."
The 'British' contingent are:
Bernard d'Abera, Visiting Scholar, Department of Entomology - British Museum (Natural History)
Geoff Barnard, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Vetinary Medicine - University of Cambridge
Mark A. Chambers, PhD Virology - University of Cambridge
Malcolm D. Chisholm, PhD Insect Ecology (MA Zoology, Oxford University) - University of Bristol
I. Caroline Crocker, PhD Immunopharmacology - University of Southampton
Eshan Dias, PhD Chemical Engineering - King's College, Cambridge University
Alistair Donald, PhD Environmental Science - University of Wales
Martin Emery, PhD Chemistry - University of Southampton
Mike Forward, PhD Applied Mathematics (Chaos Theory) - Imperial College, University of London
Martin Krause, Research Scientist (Astronomy) - University of Cambridge
Alan Linton, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology - University of Bristol
Andy McIntosh, Full Professor of Thermodynamics and Combustion Theory - University of Leeds
Stephen C. Meyer, PhD Philosophy of Science - Cambridge University
Alistair M. Noble, PhD Chemistry - University of Glasgow
Philip R. Page, PhD Theoretical Particle Physics - University of Oxford
Luke Randall, PhD Molecular Microbiology - University of London
Colin R. Reeves, Professor of Operational Research (PhD Evolutionary Algorithums) - Coventry University
Peter Silley, PhD Microbial Biochemistry - University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Mark Toleman, PhD Molecular Microbiology - Bristol University
John Worraker, PhD Applied Mathematics, University of Bristol
I'm unsure whether the scholars listed under 'Dartmouth Medical School' and 'Dartmouth College' refer to Dartmouth in Britian (if anyone knows - perhaps you can let me know). Of course, these scholars represent a minority report. Yes indeed. However: a) the minority report is growing - the scientific dissent list began with 100 signatures in 2001 and has grown by an average of c. 100 signatures per year since then. At this rate, the list will reach 1,000 signatures by 2010. In fact, the rate will probably increase - if you agree with the dissent and qualify to sign, who not sign up now? b) the list is as disproof to the claim that no scientists, or no well informed scientists, doubt Darwinism. c) the list also disproves the idea that scientific dissent from Darwinism is an exclusively 'American' phenomena:
'International scientists now represent just over 12% of all signers, and as a group has seen nearly 40% growth in the past four months... The list of 610 signatories includes member scientists from National Academies of Science in Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, India (Hindustan), Nigeria, Poland, Russia and the United States. Many of the signers are professors or researchers at major universities and international research institutions such as Cambridge University, British Museum of Natural History, Moscow State University, Masaryk University in Czech Republic, Hong Kong University, University of Turku in Finland, Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, Institut de Paléontologie Humaine in France, Chitose Institute of Science & Technology in Japan, Ben-Gurion University in Israel...' (www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2732)
A handful of other notable signers:
Philip Skell, Emeritus Evan Pugh Prof. of Chemistry Pennsylvania State University, American National Academy of Sciences
Lyle H. Jensen, Professor Emeritus Dept. of Biological Structure & Dept. of Biochemistry University of Washington, Fellow AAAS
Lev Beloussov, Prof. of Embryology, Honorary Prof., Moscow State University, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Eugene Buff, Ph.D. Genetics, Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Emil Palecek, Prof. of Molecular Biology, Masaryk University; Leading Scientist Inst. of Biophysics, Academy of Sci., Czech Republic
The 'British' contingent are:
Bernard d'Abera, Visiting Scholar, Department of Entomology - British Museum (Natural History)
Geoff Barnard, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Vetinary Medicine - University of Cambridge
Mark A. Chambers, PhD Virology - University of Cambridge
Malcolm D. Chisholm, PhD Insect Ecology (MA Zoology, Oxford University) - University of Bristol
I. Caroline Crocker, PhD Immunopharmacology - University of Southampton
Eshan Dias, PhD Chemical Engineering - King's College, Cambridge University
Alistair Donald, PhD Environmental Science - University of Wales
Martin Emery, PhD Chemistry - University of Southampton
Mike Forward, PhD Applied Mathematics (Chaos Theory) - Imperial College, University of London
Martin Krause, Research Scientist (Astronomy) - University of Cambridge
Alan Linton, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology - University of Bristol
Andy McIntosh, Full Professor of Thermodynamics and Combustion Theory - University of Leeds
Stephen C. Meyer, PhD Philosophy of Science - Cambridge University
Alistair M. Noble, PhD Chemistry - University of Glasgow
Philip R. Page, PhD Theoretical Particle Physics - University of Oxford
Luke Randall, PhD Molecular Microbiology - University of London
Colin R. Reeves, Professor of Operational Research (PhD Evolutionary Algorithums) - Coventry University
Peter Silley, PhD Microbial Biochemistry - University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Mark Toleman, PhD Molecular Microbiology - Bristol University
John Worraker, PhD Applied Mathematics, University of Bristol
I'm unsure whether the scholars listed under 'Dartmouth Medical School' and 'Dartmouth College' refer to Dartmouth in Britian (if anyone knows - perhaps you can let me know). Of course, these scholars represent a minority report. Yes indeed. However: a) the minority report is growing - the scientific dissent list began with 100 signatures in 2001 and has grown by an average of c. 100 signatures per year since then. At this rate, the list will reach 1,000 signatures by 2010. In fact, the rate will probably increase - if you agree with the dissent and qualify to sign, who not sign up now? b) the list is as disproof to the claim that no scientists, or no well informed scientists, doubt Darwinism. c) the list also disproves the idea that scientific dissent from Darwinism is an exclusively 'American' phenomena:
'International scientists now represent just over 12% of all signers, and as a group has seen nearly 40% growth in the past four months... The list of 610 signatories includes member scientists from National Academies of Science in Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, India (Hindustan), Nigeria, Poland, Russia and the United States. Many of the signers are professors or researchers at major universities and international research institutions such as Cambridge University, British Museum of Natural History, Moscow State University, Masaryk University in Czech Republic, Hong Kong University, University of Turku in Finland, Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, Institut de Paléontologie Humaine in France, Chitose Institute of Science & Technology in Japan, Ben-Gurion University in Israel...' (www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2732)
A handful of other notable signers:
Philip Skell, Emeritus Evan Pugh Prof. of Chemistry Pennsylvania State University, American National Academy of Sciences
Lyle H. Jensen, Professor Emeritus Dept. of Biological Structure & Dept. of Biochemistry University of Washington, Fellow AAAS
Lev Beloussov, Prof. of Embryology, Honorary Prof., Moscow State University, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Eugene Buff, Ph.D. Genetics, Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Emil Palecek, Prof. of Molecular Biology, Masaryk University; Leading Scientist Inst. of Biophysics, Academy of Sci., Czech Republic
