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Kansas Museum Opens Evolution Exhibit
By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Oct 25,10:27 PM ET
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Upstairs from the Natural Selections gift shop is what directors of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas believe will be the latest word in an ongoing ruckus over evolution.
The "Explore Evolution" exhibit is part of a six-university program to educate the public about evolution and its role in explaining the natural world. The exhibit opens to the public Nov. 1, with the money coming from a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant.
Although planning for the project has taken four years, it is debuting as evolution's place in science classrooms is being debated in Kansas, a federal trial in Pennsylvania and even at the White House.
Leonard Krishtalka, director of the university's biodiversity institute, described evolution Tuesday as the "single-most unifying concept" in evolutionary biology. The exhibit demonstrates that evolutionary concepts are woven into numerous scientific disciplines.
"It's not a textbook on evolution," Krishtalka said, during a museum preview for reporters. "This exhibit isn't designed to convert anyone."
The exhibit fills a display gallery in Dyche Hall on the Lawrence campus. Hanging across the entry for the exhibit is a giant mosasaur, a lizard that lived in the inland sea that covered Kansas 65 million to 90 million years ago.
Seven stations describe scientists' research around the globe and the importance of evolution in understanding the mutation of diseases, such as HIV, and the relationship between humans and chimpanzees.
Exhibits also are planned for or have opened at the universities of Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as Minnesota Science Museum in Minneapolis.
Krishtalka said all visitors are welcome, though he expects that some, including advocates of intelligent design, will come looking to debate evolution. Intelligent design — a concept Krishtalka calls "creationism in a cheap tuxedo" — says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause.
"If there are any debates, I'm sure they will be done informally," he said, adding he expects intelligent design advocates to leave literature at the exhibit criticizing evolution.
(article continues)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_sc/evolution_exhibit_1
Lawrence appears to be on the right track, anyway. (Go 'Hawks!)
By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Oct 25,10:27 PM ET
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Upstairs from the Natural Selections gift shop is what directors of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas believe will be the latest word in an ongoing ruckus over evolution.
The "Explore Evolution" exhibit is part of a six-university program to educate the public about evolution and its role in explaining the natural world. The exhibit opens to the public Nov. 1, with the money coming from a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant.
Although planning for the project has taken four years, it is debuting as evolution's place in science classrooms is being debated in Kansas, a federal trial in Pennsylvania and even at the White House.
Leonard Krishtalka, director of the university's biodiversity institute, described evolution Tuesday as the "single-most unifying concept" in evolutionary biology. The exhibit demonstrates that evolutionary concepts are woven into numerous scientific disciplines.
"It's not a textbook on evolution," Krishtalka said, during a museum preview for reporters. "This exhibit isn't designed to convert anyone."
The exhibit fills a display gallery in Dyche Hall on the Lawrence campus. Hanging across the entry for the exhibit is a giant mosasaur, a lizard that lived in the inland sea that covered Kansas 65 million to 90 million years ago.
Seven stations describe scientists' research around the globe and the importance of evolution in understanding the mutation of diseases, such as HIV, and the relationship between humans and chimpanzees.
Exhibits also are planned for or have opened at the universities of Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as Minnesota Science Museum in Minneapolis.
Krishtalka said all visitors are welcome, though he expects that some, including advocates of intelligent design, will come looking to debate evolution. Intelligent design — a concept Krishtalka calls "creationism in a cheap tuxedo" — says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause.
"If there are any debates, I'm sure they will be done informally," he said, adding he expects intelligent design advocates to leave literature at the exhibit criticizing evolution.
(article continues)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_sc/evolution_exhibit_1
Lawrence appears to be on the right track, anyway. (Go 'Hawks!)
