US National Academy of Sciences Releases Revised Edition of Science, Evolution and Creationism. (January 5, 2008)

In 1984, the US National Academy of Sciences, published a volume on the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. It argued against the introduction of creationism or other

religious alternatives in public school science classes. Utilising new data obtained in the interim, in 1999 it published a revised addition no less force in its conclusions.

Now on January 3 The National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine has brought out Science, Evolution and Creationism, an 88 page publication which differs from its predecessors: “We wanted to produce a report that would be valuable and accessible to school board members and teachers and clergy,” said Barbara A. Schaal, a vice president of the academy, an evolutionary biologist at Washington University and a member of the panel that produced the book.

People who worked on the volume admit it is unusual for an Academy publication because "it is intended specifically for the lay public and because it devotes much of its space to explaining the differences between science and religion, and asserting that acceptance of evolution does not require abandoning belief in God".

The academy panel responsible for the publication was headed by Francisco Ayala, a biologist at the University of California, Irvine, and a former Dominican priest.

it reports that evidence for the theory of evolution is overwhelming and continues to grow.

As examples, it cites findings from DNA research, fossil discoveries and the observations scientists have made about emerging diseases, like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

The book also denounces the arguments for a form of creationism called intelligent design, calling them devoid of evidence, "disproven" or "simply false".

"This book is a small start to get scientists mobilized about how they teach science," said panel member Bruce Alberts, former NAS president and the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Science. But it's only part of the solution, noted Professor Ayala, who chastised the media for falling down on the public education front. "You, the media, have certainly done a miserable job," he said, noting that many newspapers devote more space to astrology than to science.

 A press release from The Discovery Institute described the statement by the panel that evolution is the "foundation of modern biology" as "outrageous hype."

The Discovery Institute, you may recall, is where intelligent design was "discovered".