Leading science publisher Springer has announced a new journal for teachers, Outreach and Education in Evolution. Any hope that this might provide an objective and balanced approach are quickly dashed by the publisher's press release titled Fighting to keep Darwin in the classroom.

This title seems odd, as Darwin's place in science lessons is hardly under threat. Organisations such as Truth in Science and its international counterparts want more, not less, taught about Darwinism in science lessons and our teaching materials provide detailed information on Darwin's work. We are simply calling for a more balanced approach to the topic of origins, which must include a fair consideration of other views.

Balance does not appear to be a top priority for the new Springer journal. It aims to "arm educators for battle with creationists" and provide "a fresh source of evolution materials and anti-creationism ammunition for our school teachers on the front lines of this ongoing battle".

Each quarterly issue will feature peer-reviewed articles on evolution, “letters from the trenches,” interviews with prominent scientists and educators, lesson plans, critical essays, cartoons, puzzles, and reviews of evolution in the media.

Niles and Greg Eldredge, the editors-in-chief said: “Evolution remains the central unifying idea in biology and yet is still a source of contention and confusion in the classroom. In Outreach and Education in Evolution, we’ll cover the gamut, from molecules to ecosystems and from ‘intelligent design’ to natural selection. We aim to make a big difference in evolutionary education.”

The journal will be sold for a low cost, and up to $10,000 annually will be given by Springer in grants and prizes for the best paper, the best lesson plan, etc. A spokeswoman for the publisher said: "Springer stands behind evolutionary theory as a fundamental component of modern science education, especially now since the ‘intelligent design’ advocates have made worrying attempts to promote their views in public schools. We are committed to helping educators teach Darwin’s theory to students at all levels.”

The publishers see the journal as part of a "battle to keep religiously based explanations of the history of life—especially human life—out of the science curriculum".  They cite Professor Telmo Pievani, of the University of Milan, Italy, saying, “Outreach and Education in Evolution is absolutely opportune in its mission.  It is much needed today for European audiences as well, where some conservative and religious leaders have grasped the political power of the tricky ideas of ‘intelligent design.’"

Such rhetoric hardly befits the announcement of a serious forum for scholarship. Clearly there will be little room for the discussion of the scientific and intellectual merits of the design hypothesis. Rather, the journal's objective seems to be the promotion of a certain kind of educational propaganda.

Seldom, if ever, has an academic journal been launched with such agressive language against an intellectual position; nor with the publisher itself so openly sponsoring and promoting a 'mission’ agenda.

The first issue of the journal is scheduled for March 2008.