EUGENIE SCOTT: “Ban, Balance, and Belittle: Teaching Evolution and Anthropogenic Climate Change”
Both evolution and anthropogenic climate change are “controversial issues” in education, although not in the realm of science. Proponents of antievolutionism and climate change denial use remarkably similar approaches to promote their views. The scientific issues are presented as “not being settled”, or that there is considerable debate among scientists over the validity of claims. The consequences of accepting either evolution or the reality of climate change are said to strike against core values. And in the educational setting, cultural values of fair play and free speech are invoked to encourage the teaching of both creationism and denial of anthropogenic global warming.
MICHAEL SPECTER: “Denialism: Running from Reality”
How do we fight for progress when the truth doesn't seem to matter? Scientific knowledge is moving forward today faster than at any time in human history. In many fields progress can be measured in weeks rather than years or decades. Yet rapid technological advances have been met not just with skepticism but with denialism: increasingly, no matter how powerful the data, people refuse to accept facts they don't happen to like. The results have been deadly and promise to get worse: an unfounded fear of vaccines has led to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and pertussis throughout the Western world; humanity’s role in climate change is questioned despite mountains of convincing evidence, and despite the endorsement of scientific bodies throughout the world, genetically engineered food, which has the potential to help feed billions, is opposed violently. Many of our celebrities, and even some of our most famous and honored doctors, mislead millions on television with half truths and ignored facts.