Difference between revisions of "Smithsonian-Sternberg affair"
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| Given = Michael | | Given = Michael | ||
| Year = 2005 | | Year = 2005 | ||
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| Title = Editor Explains Reasons for 'Intelligent Design' Article | | Title = Editor Explains Reasons for 'Intelligent Design' Article | ||
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| Surname = Sounder | | Surname = Sounder | ||
| Given = Mark (Staff report for U.S. Representative Mark Sounder) | | Given = Mark (Staff report for U.S. Representative Mark Sounder) | ||
| − | | Year = | + | | Year = 2006 |
| − | | Date = | + | | Date = 2006 |
| Title = Intolerance And The Politicization Of Science At The Smithsonian Smithsonian’s Top Officials Permit The Demotion And Harassment Of Scientist Skeptical Of Darwinian Evolution Staff Report Prepared For The Hon. Mark Souder Chairman, Subcommittee On Criminal Justice, Drug Policy And Human Resources | | Title = Intolerance And The Politicization Of Science At The Smithsonian Smithsonian’s Top Officials Permit The Demotion And Harassment Of Scientist Skeptical Of Darwinian Evolution Staff Report Prepared For The Hon. Mark Souder Chairman, Subcommittee On Criminal Justice, Drug Policy And Human Resources | ||
| URL = http://www.souder.house.gov/_files/IntoleranceandthePoliticizationofScienceattheSmithsonian.pdf | | URL = http://www.souder.house.gov/_files/IntoleranceandthePoliticizationofScienceattheSmithsonian.pdf | ||
Revision as of 23:07, May 7, 2007
Smithsonian Controversy
The Smithsonian controversy began with backlash over the publication of an article written by an intelligent design (ID) proponent in a peer-reviewed scientific journal loosely affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution (SI),[1] contrary, according the the publisher, to the journal's "typical" process of also having an associate editor involved in the peer-review process.[2] An article titled The origin of biological information and the higher taxonomic categories by ID advocate Stephen C. Meyer was published in the August 4, 2004 volume of Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, (PBSW)[3] Richard Sternberg was the managing editor at the journal, and also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and the issue was the last he was to work on (he had previously announced his resignation from PBSW).
Controversy ensued within hours of publication,[4] with senior Smithsonian scientists referring to Sternberg as a "shoddy scientist" and a "closet Bible thumper."[5] Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), a think-tank that promotes evolution, defended the Smithsonian: "They don't care if you are religious, but they do care a lot if you are a creationist,"[6] and "Some [scientists] probably did speak intemperately,"[7] out of frustration and annoyance over Sternberg's editorial role.
Although Sternberg had announced his resignation from PBSW before the controversy irrupted, he continued to work at the Smithsonian as a National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Research Associate (RA).[8] Sternberg states that he was subjected to a hostile work environment as an RA, and requested that the United States Office of Special Counsel (USOSC) investigate his allegations.[9] The USOSC ultimately concluded in a letter obtained by three media outlets that Sternberg was subjected to a hostile work environment at the NMNH.[10] However, the USOSC closed the investigation without taking further action due to the jurisdictional issue of Richard Sternberg's salary, which was not paid by the Smithsonian.[11] Eugenie Scott, whose organization also consulted with the Smithsonian, countered that "[Sternberg] didn't lose his job, he didn't get his pay cut, he still has his research privileges, he still has his office....You know, what's his complaint? People weren't nice to him. Well, life is not fair."[12] U.S. Representative Mark Souder's staff subsequently issued a report findng that the allegations of a hostile work environment and other retaliations including demotion were backed by "substantial, credible evidence."[13]
Opinions on the Smithsonian Controversy
Critics of teaching Intelligent Design (ID) in public schools have long argued that it is unscientific because no intelligent design paper had been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. David Klinghoffer commented in a Wall Street Journal opinion article: "Note the circularity: Critics of ID have long argued that the theory was unscientific because it had not been put forward in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Now that it has, they argue that it shouldn't have been because it's unscientific."[14]
References
- ↑ Powell 2005, p. A19, Hagerty 2005, Sounder 2006
- ↑ Statement from the Council of the Biological Society of Washington
- ↑ Meyer 2004, p. 213-239
- ↑ Powell 2005, p. A19
- ↑ Powell 2005, p. A19
- ↑ Powell 2005, p. A19, Statement to Washington Post reporter Michael Powell
- ↑ Hagerty 2005 Recorded statement to National Public Radio
- ↑ Sounder 2006
- ↑ Sounder 2006
- ↑ Hagerty 2005, Powell 2005, p. A19 letter is referred to as a report in Washington Post article, but quotes in this article make it clear that the report was addressed to Sternberg. See also McVay 2005 USOSC pre-closure letter to Sternberg
- ↑ Powell 2005, p. A19, Hagerty 2005, Sounder 2006
- ↑ Hagerty 2005
- ↑ Sounder 2006
- ↑ Klinghoffer 2005
Sources
- Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (2005-10-11), Intelligent Design and Academic Freedom (Audio Program) National Public Radio], National Public Radio Retrieved on 2007-05-08
- Klinghoffer, David (2005-01-28), The Branding of a Heretic: Are Religious Scientists Unwelcome at the Smithsonian?, Opinion Journal from the Wall Street Journal Editorial Page Retrieved on 2007-05-08
- McVay, James (2005-08-05), Letter to Dr. Richard von Sternberg Re: OSC File No. MA-05-0371 and MA-05-0015, Opinion Journal from the Wall Street Journal Editorial Page (Pre-closure letter), James McVay in his official capacity at U.S. Office of Special Counsel Facsimile from Richard Sternberg's website, Retrieved on 2007-05-06
- Meyer, Stephen C. (2004-08-04), "The Origin of Biological Information and the Higher Taxonomic Categories", Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 117(2) Facsimile available from discovery.org, Retrieved on 2007-05-06
- Powell, Michael (2005-08-19), Editor Explains Reasons for 'Intelligent Design' Article, Washington Post Retrieved on 2007-05-08
- Sounder, Mark (Staff report for U.S. Representative Mark Sounder) (2006), Intolerance And The Politicization Of Science At The Smithsonian Smithsonian’s Top Officials Permit The Demotion And Harassment Of Scientist Skeptical Of Darwinian Evolution Staff Report Prepared For The Hon. Mark Souder Chairman, Subcommittee On Criminal Justice, Drug Policy And Human Resources Retrieved on 2007-05-08