Truth in Science

Professor Michael Reiss has been forced to quit his post as Director of Education at the Royal Society.

The Society's website reports:

Some of Professor Michael Reiss's recent comments, on the issue of creationism in schools, while speaking as the Royal Society's Director of Education, were open to misinterpretation.   While it was not his intention, this has led to damage to the Society's reputation.  As a result, Professor Reiss and the Royal Society have agreed that, in the best interests of the Society, he will step down immediately as Director of Education a part time post he held on secondment.   He is to return, full time, to his position as Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education.

It seems that a powerful group of the Society's Fellows had long-term objection to Prof. Reiss' appointment. According to the New Scientist, Sir Harry Kroto informed the Royal Society a year ago that appointing Reiss as Director of Education was "extremely disturbing". Richard Dawkins took issue with the simple fact that Michael Reiss is an ordained minister of the Church of England. Due to misrepresentations of Prof. Reiss in the media and the resulting short-term furore, these men have now had their way.

Even Richard Dawkins admits that the lobbying against Michael Reiss came "a little too close to a witch-hunt". Professor Lord Winston said: "I fear that in this action the Royal Society may have only diminished itself. This is not a good day for the reputation of science or scientists."