Press Release 



141 



Whereas this methodology has consis- 

 tently provided the means of questioning 

 dogma, authoritarianism, and deliberate de- 

 ception, by championing the spirit of inqui- 

 ry based on testing, analysis, honest review, 

 criticism and counter criticism and designs 

 for further testing, and, 



Whereas the advancements of our under- 

 standing of the interconnection of the phys- 

 ical properties of our universe coupled with 

 the life forms which together compose our 

 biosphere clearly support that the evolu- 

 tionary 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 pubHc 

 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 he 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 wording 

 be reinstated, and decries any attempt to 

 remove the teaching of basic evolutionary 

 theory or any scientific concept that may be 

 tested and examined in concert with the ba- 

 sic scientific laws and principles that com- 

 prise the Scientific Method, and further- 

 more be it resolved that the public sup- 

 ported education systems of the Common- 

 wealth be enhanced with complete support 

 of seeking knowledge by every means pos- 

 sible commensurate with known principles 

 of scientific theory, fact, and understanding. 



Adopted by the KAS Governing Board No- 

 vember 6, 1999. 



Passed unanimously by KAS membership No- 

 vember 6, 1999. 



Both resolutions reviewed and reaf- 

 firmed by the KAS membership at the an- 

 nual 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 evo- 

 lution is one of the most robust products of 

 scientific inquiry. It is the foundation for re- 

 search in many areas of biology as well as an 

 essential element of science education. To be- 

 come informed and responsible citizens in our 

 contemporary technological world, students 

 need to study the theories and empirical evi- 

 dence central to current scientific understand- 

 ing. 



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 intro- 

 duce the teaching of "intelligent design theo- 

 ry" 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, indi- 

 vidual scientists and philosophers of science 

 have provided substantive critiques of "intel- 

 ligent design," demonstrating significant con- 

 ceptual flaws in its formulation, a lack of cred- 

 ible scientific evidence, and misrepresenta- 

 tions of scientific facts. 



Recognizing that the "intelligent design the- 

 ory" 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 con- 

 temporary 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 evo- 

 lution; 



Whereas, the ID movement has not pro- 

 posed a scientific means of testing its 

 claims; 



Therefore Be It Resolved, that the lack of 

 scientific warrant for so-called "intefligent 



