Over at the Young Australian Skeptics, Hanster7705 has written a post about their recent experience with creationism at their semi-private high school, where young-earth creationist Mark Harwood (from Creation Ministries) gave a talk during a regular chapel service. Because, you know, his Ph.D in satellite engineering qualifies him to speak to school children about evolutionary biology. Of course.
Oh yes, creationism is alive and well in Australia, and even though it’s not as widespread as in the US, it’s still a serious problem. The solution? Better science education! Schools need to promote science more, to engage children with the wonders of evolutionary theory. Most people think that it’s a dry science that at best is boring and at worst conflicts with their religious views. This is unacceptable, and the public’s understanding and appreciation of the science of evolution needs to radically improve.
If ever there was a motivating force for young science enthusiasts to study and work in science communication, this is it. Australia needs science communication – and so does everywhere else. Get cracking!
For one, Harwood is speaking utter nonsense, so that should be a relevant factor (and it's probably the most important thing, really), but it also comes down to qualifications to teach. Harwood isn't qualified to teach science – science teachers are. Science teachers have a certified curriculum that *usually* teaches things that are correct and backed up by the scientific literature. Random people who come into a school from any old organisation don't have that formal teaching structure to adhere to, and may be teaching the kids things that are not demonstrably true.