Nature’s 18 Science Questions
Science journal Nature asked both presidential candidates to answer 18 questions about science and science education (different from the questions asked in Sciencedebate 2008). John McCain declined the invitation but Barack Obama responded: US election: Questioning the candidates.
Since McCain (for whatever reason) didn’t participate, Nature included his public statements on the issues under discussion.
Do you believe that evolution by means of natural selection is a sufficient explanation for the variety and complexity of life on Earth? Should intelligent design, or some derivative thereof, be taught in science class in public schools?
Obama: I believe in evolution, and I support the strong consensus of the scientific community that evolution is scientifically validated. I do not believe it is helpful to our students to cloud discussions of science with non-scientific theories like intelligent design that are not subject to experimental scrutiny.
McCain said last year, in a Republican primary debate: “I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also.” In 2005, he told the Arizona Daily Star that he thought “all points of view” should be available to students studying the origins of humanity. But the next year a Colorado paper reported him saying that such viewpoints should not be taught in science class.
Frank says: