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Smithsonian commits creationism gaffe
		 11 June 2005
		 From New Scientist Print Edition.

THERE is egg on management faces at the Smithsonian Institution in 
Washington DC over the screening of a creationist film in one of its 
museums.

The Smithsonian is the largest museum complex in the world and 
describes itself as "America's museum". It rents out the 565-seat 
Baird Auditorium at its National Museum of Natural History for events 
ranging from scientific conferences to concerts. But "events of a 
religious or partisan political nature" are banned.

Nothing amiss was spotted when a public-relations firm booked the 
room for 23 June for the Discovery Institute, a pro-creationist think 
tank in Seattle. The event is an invitation-only showing of The 
Privileged Planet, described as a "scientific documentary" that 
ponders "purpose within cosmic evolution".

Scientists say that it advocates creationism, and have berated the 
Smithsonian for allowing itself to be listed as a co-sponsor - 
standard practice on all hosted events. On 1 June, the museum 
admitted its error, saying the film "is not consistent with the 
mission of the Smithsonian Institution's scientific research". It has 
not cancelled the screening, but has refused the $16,000 fee and 
withdrawn co-sponsorship.
>
>Nature 435, 725 (9 June 2005)
>
>Evolutionist row makes museum ditch donation
>Geoff Brumfiel, Washington DC
>
>Abstract
>But intelligent-design group will show movie on Smithsonian premises.
>
>Is one of Washington's most prestigious museums promoting intelligent design
>by screening a film that some scientists claim is anti-evolution? The
>Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History has returned a
>$16,000 donation it had accepted from a think-tank that promotes the
>philosophy, but it still plans to allow the group to screen its
>controversial movie.
>
>The trouble began in April, when Smithsonian officials rented an auditorium
>to the Seattle-based Discovery Institute. The institute is a major centre of
>the intelligent-design movement, which holds that an intelligent creator,
>and not natural selection, shaped life on Earth.
>
>Evolution advocates were shocked to receive invitations from the Discovery
>Institute that claimed the 23 June event was co-sponsored by the museum's
>director. "It looked as though the Smithsonian was supporting intelligent
>design," says Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science
>Education in Oakland, California, which works to improve the teaching of
>evolution.
>
>According to spokesman Randall Kremer, the museum regularly accepts
>donations for use of the auditorium, and staff were unaware of the
>institute's philosophy. "It was treated as a routine request," he says.
>
>"The Smithsonian was duped," adds Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist
>at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, who lectures on
>evolution.
>
>Discovery Institute staff deny any wrongdoing. "We actually followed the
>invitation template that the Smithsonian provided for us," says Jay
>Richards, a senior fellow with the institute.
>
>Nevertheless, after dozens of calls and e-mails from researchers and the
>public, the museum decided last week to return the donation and issue a
>statement disavowing the event. "We are not in any way changing the
>foundation of research here," says Kremer. However, the museum will honour
>its contract and allow the Discovery Institute to show The Privileged
>Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe.
>
>Richards adds that the film does not deal directly with intelligent design
>or biological evolution. It is based on a book he co-authored with Guillermo
>Gonzalez, an astronomer at Iowa State University, which argues that Earth is
>uniquely and improbably suited for the appearance of life.
>
>Scott says she is pleased by the swift steps the museum has taken. But not
>everyone is satisfied. "I personally don't think they should show the film,"
>says Peter Folger, director of outreach for the American Geophysical Union
>in Washington DC, adding that the screening could give the institute
>scientific credibility.
>
>The museum is reviewing its special-events policy to avoid confusion in
>future.
>
>
>Related links
>RELATED STORIES
>   a.. Intelligent design: Who has designs on your students' minds?
>   b.. Peer-reviewed paper defends theory of intelligent design
>   c.. Bright blue dot
>EXTERNAL LINKS
>   a.. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
>   b.. Discovery Institute
>   c.. National Center for Science Education
>
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