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Origins Course Not Science, UNM Dean Says

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

* Class that examines evolution also explores 'intelligent design'

Evolution faces new scrutiny at the University of New Mexico.

An honors class first offered last spring -- "Origins: Science, Faith and Philosophy" -- takes on issues such as evolution and the origin of the universe. It will be offered again this spring.

Two instructors teaching the class say they present a balanced view that pairs mainstream scientific views with the notion of intelligent design.

Intelligent design advocates argue that evolution alone cannot explain the diversity of life. They also suggest the existence of an "intelligent design" that goes beyond natural laws.

"We tried to present two sides on everything," said Michael Kent, a Sandia National Laboratories chemist who taught the course with UNM psychology professor Harold Delaney.

"There is scientific data that nobody disagrees with, but it can be seen in different ways," Kent said. "What we try and do is put all the scientific and philosophical cards on the table and have an interesting discussion."

The class drew protests from UNM science professors in January when they learned it would satisfy a science credit in UNM's College of Arts and Sciences.

"This was basically a humanities elective and not a science course," said Reed Way Dasenbrock, dean of the college.

Dasenbrock issued a memo on Jan. 20 siding with the scientists.

Dasenbrock wrote, "The first task for undergraduate education is for students to get an adequate knowledge base in the individual disciplines," such as physics, chemistry and biology.

Once students have a grasp of basic science, "they begin to ask more fundamental questions," he wrote. "Your course is more typical of humanities courses in beginning with questions."

Dasenbrock said last week he did not consider prohibiting Kent and Delaney from teaching the class.

"There was no attempt to interfere with any freedom to teach," he said. "But it was not given science credit."

Les McFadden, chairman of Earth and Planetary Sciences, contends the class presents material about some of science's most puzzling questions to students who lack the background to make informed decisions.

Students are not required to take prerequisite science courses before taking the class, he notes.

"How do you make a judgment about something if you don't have the background?" McFadden said. The class takes on fundamental questions in physics, biology and chemistry, he said.

"There's just no way, in any informed way, they could critically evaluate it."

McFadden also said intelligent design is a new guise for creationism, which interprets science based on biblical text.

Kent and Delaney say intelligent design differs from creationism. Intelligent design offers philosophical interpretations of scientific data, not religious texts, they said.

The class is based on lectures and writings by experts in their fields, Kent said, and the material is tailored for students with a limited knowledge of science.

"I intend for the nature of the arguments themselves to be accessible to anyone," Kent said. "That's enough to make the class interesting."

Delaney said many of the approximately 15 undergraduates in the class had some background in math and science.

All UNM students are required to take at least two classes in physical and natural science, including at least one lab course. Arts and Sciences students must take at least one additional science course to satisfy the college's requirements.

Kent said the class was inspired by a conference held in 1999 at Baylor University, a Baptist-affiliated school in Waco, Texas. The conference was hosted by the Polanyi Center, which was dedicated to the study of intelligent design. The center dissolved in 2000 after intense criticism from Baylor scientists.

Jaclyn Murton, a UNM biology major who took the class, said she remains undecided about whether she accepts the theory of evolution. She plans to take a class next summer devoted to evolution.

"I'd like to have that perspective before I make a decision," said Murton, 21, a junior.

Murton also said she found the class balanced, understandable and interesting.

"The point of honors classes is to expand your horizons, open your mind to these ideas," she said.

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