Anti-science’ label may repel scientists

[pstokely]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/12854747.htm

Region seeks high-tech jobs

‘Anti-science’ label may repel scientists

By JASON GERTZEN and DIANE STAFFORD

The Kansas City Star


Ben Holt is an up-and-coming biologist looking for a job, but he is wary of Kansas.

A political tussle over the teaching of evolution in Kansas classrooms has left Holt with questions about how free he would be to pursue his research in a university laboratory. He also wonders about the nature of the schools his three children would attend if he moved to the state.

“They want to bring things like intelligent design into classes and downplay the fact of evolution,” said Holt, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in plant genetics at the University of North Carolina. “I find it incredibly troubling.”

[atommom]

1. It would repel *me* if I were looking for a science job today.

It shouldn't surprise us that scientists are reluctant to move here. Given the state's reputation for challenging evolution, they may not want the word "Kansas" on their resumes. They're not likely to want to put their children into our fundie-fied public schools, either. I'm probably being a little harsh, but I know that if I were not a native Kansan, these factors would keep me from relocating here.

Since I am already here, I'm trying to change the system (while making sure my husband stays friendly with his business contacts in Toronto, just in case).

[MuseRider]

2. I was going to post

almost the exact same thing. Why would they want to come here. It is one thing to be here and be able to fight it but to come here when it is like this? I would not and I can't blame anyone who would. My god, are we even going to have good Doctors here in a few years? I would not want to educate my kids here now.