Public release date: 12-Apr-2005

American Association for the Advancement of Science

AAAS 'respectfully declines' invitation to controversial Kansas evolution hearing

AAAS on Monday declined an invitation from the Kansas Board of Education to appear at a May hearing on teaching evolution in public schools after concluding that the event is likely to sow confusion rather than understanding among the public.

In a letter to George Griffith, science consultant to the Kansas State Department of Education, association CEO Alan I. Leshner sided with the leaders of the Kansas science community who have described the hearings as an effort by faith-based proponents of "intelligent design" theory to attack and undermine science.

"After much consideration," Leshner wrote, "AAAS respectfully declines to participate in this hearing out of concern that rather than contribute to science education, it will most likely serve to confuse the public about the nature of the scientific enterprise."

AAAS is the world's largest general science organization and the publisher of the journal Science; Leshner also serves as the journal's executive publisher.

Leaders of the Kansas science community have called for a boycott of the hearing, and thus far, representatives of state and national science groups have refused to testify.

Edward W. Lempinen
elempine@aaas.org
925-945-1937

Ginger Pinholster
gpinhols@aaas.org
202-326-6421