Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology creates science fact-backing resolution

The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology is supporting "Resolution on Evolution and Climate Change" and President John Pearse is hoping that other societies will join them. The resolution reads:

"Recognizing that science is under attack in the U.S. as evidenced by the wide-spread disregard for the scientific process and the suppression and distortion of scientific data across a broad spectrum of areas in which we, as biologists, have special expertise, be it resolved that the SICB take a public stand in support of scientific truth, especially:

1. in support of the teaching of evolution as a scientific fact, and under the name of "evolution;"

2. in support of efforts to publicize broadly the impacts of the suppression of scientific evidence on societal concerns such as global climate change, environmental conservation and stem-cell research; and

3. to authorize the SICB Executive Committee to issue press releases and editorials, initiate and publish statements, and sign collective statements consistent with (1) and (2) above."

Last year, Pearse and public affairs committee chair Peter deFur prepared an opinion piece that was sent to several national newspapers commemorating Darwin's birthday and supporting the teaching of evolution. This was sent to all the society's members, some who modified it and sent it to local newspapers. To date, none of these versions have been published to our knowledge.

"I would be interested to know whether other societies have taken similar actions, and how they have fared," Pearse said. "Of course, many people probably feel that these concerns will go away with the new administration. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that will happen, especially with all the fiscal restraints."