Thursday, January 28, 2010

 

We're Growing a Strange Crop of Skeptics This Year*


Here is some interesting news: Ken Miller, a professor of biology at Brown University, lead witness for the plaintiffs in the Kitzmiller case that banned Intelligent Design Creationism from Dover science classes ... and devout Catholic and author of Finding Darwin's God ... has been elected the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, publisher of Skeptical Inquirer.

The letter the group sent to Miller inviting him to become a fellow of the committee read, “Members of the committee have long been impressed with your commitment to science, rational inquiry, and public education.” Miller has published two well-known books about evolution, and co-authored a biology textbook that, according to Miller, 30 to 40 percent of U.S. high schools use.

“I have watched (Miller’s) career with admiration,” said Kendrick Frazier, the editor of Skeptical Inquirer. “He has been an effective proponent of good science and the teaching of evolution and an equally extraordinarily effective opponent of bad science and efforts to introduce creationism into the classroom and the public arena.”

Miller said he was extremely pleased to be chosen as one of the committee’s 16 fellows. Although his position does not have any outlined responsibilities, Miller said it is a huge honor and he sees himself becoming involved in the committee’s conferences and the production of newsletters and articles.

At the same time, Massimo Pigliucci, chair of the department of philosophy at CUNY-Lehman College and blogger at Rationally Speaking, was also named to the committee.

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* Bonus points if you can identify the source of this paraphrase.
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Comments:
Hornbeck, in Inherit the Wind, with "agnostics" for "skeptics." What do I win?
 
Just accumulate 100 more points and you get to read my blog for free.
 
And what is the second-place prize?

Tom S.
 
If you google the phrase "We're growing a strange crop" then this post appears in second place!
 
And what is the second-place prize?

You are forced to read my blog.
 
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