MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release
November 9, 2005

ESA Statement on Kansas State Board of Education Decision

Following the recent Kansas State Board of Education ruling that intelligent design be included in state science standards, Dr. Nancy Grimm, President of the Ecological Society of America, the nation's premier scientific society of ecological scientists, offered the following comments: “I am deeply disturbed by the continuing push to promote intelligent design in science classes. Intelligent design is not science and should not be taught in science classes.”

The scientific theory of evolutionary biology has been repeatedly tested and validated through the peer review process. It is accepted as one of the fundamental building blocks in science, touching nearly every other discipline including those that directly affect humans, such as medicine and agriculture. Evolutionary science allows us to understand the great diversity of species on the planet and identify the processes currently acting on them.

While it is the nature of the scientific process for scientists to debate and test the mechanisms that drive evolution, there is consensus that the empirical evidence for it is undeniable. The scientific method is greatly successful at explaining natural processes, leading to a better understanding of the Earth and providing enormous benefits to society.

In contrast, the tenants of intelligent design are not testable and therefore cannot be considered scientific concepts. Proponents are unable to test their hypotheses following the traditions of science, and present evidence that has withstood scientific scrutiny. As a result, intelligent design does not meet the standards of scientific process and review and it is inappropriate to include it in science classes. Advocates of intelligent design undermine the scientific literacy of all Americans when they blur the lines between cultural debates, religious teachings and scientific theory.