FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 60: June 6, 2000
"AAS Statement on the Teaching of the History of the Universe"
Earlier this year, the Council of the American Astronomical
Society issued the following open letter, which appeared in this
month's AAS Newsletter. The impetus for this statement was the
Kansas State Board of Education decision on the teaching of
evolution. This open letter was signed by AAS President Robert
D. Gehrz.
"To Whom It May Concern:
"The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the largest
organization of professional astronomers in the United States.
Its 6,000 members are men and women of all convictions and a
variety of religious faiths. They work in ALL fields of
astronomy, including the study of planets, of stars and of the
Universe as a whole. Research in each of these areas, and in
many other areas of astronomy, has produced clear, compelling and
widely accepted evidence that astronomical objects and systems
evolve. That is, their properties change with time, often over
very long time scales.
"Specifically, the scientific evidence clearly indicates that the
Universe is 10 to 15 billion years old, and began in a hot, dense
state we call the Big Bang.
"Given the ample evidence that change over time is a crucial
property of planets, including our own, of stars, of galaxies and
of the Universe as a whole, it is important for the nation's
school children to learn about the great age of, and changes in,
astronomical systems, as well as their present properties.
"More generally, we believe that it is important to teach
students the nature of the scientific method. Scientific inquiry
involves the development and testing of hypotheses based on a
systematic collection and analysis of data acquired through
observations, experiments, and computer simulations. Science is
not a collection of facts but an ongoing process, with continual
revisions and refinements of concepts necessary in order to
arrive at the best current views of the Universe. Science is
unified; it is not possible to make use of scientific laws in one
context, and then deny them in another. The same laws of science
that govern - or empower - our advanced technology also underlie
changes in time of astronomical systems. Science is not based
on faith, nor does it preclude faith. Whatever personal beliefs
teachers, students, parents or administrators may hold, the
teaching of important scientific concepts, such as the formation
and aging of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe, should
not be altered or constrained in response to demands external to
the scientific disciplines.
"The astronomical discoveries of the past century, many made by
American scientists, are among the great triumphs of the human
intellect, and we deeply regret any attempt to ignore them or
deny them.
"Children whose education is denied the benefits of this
expansion of our understanding of the world around us are being
deprived of part of their intellectual heritage. They may also
be at a competitive disadvantage in a world where scientific and
technological literacy is becoming more and more important
economically and culturally."
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Richard M. Jones
Public Information Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
(301) 209-3095
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/
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