The Politically Incorrect Science Fair

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "Science fairs have reached new levels of intensity, and students are turning to trendy topics like stem-cell research and intelligent design to get a leg up, the Wall Street Journal reports. 'Serene Chen says she might not be at Harvard now were it not for her application essay, which described her fetal-stem-cell research on the characteristics of Down syndrome. "If you say you studied something like 'random molecule,' it's obscure, but when you say 'stem cells,' people really perk up," says Ms. Chen, 20, now a sophomore. ... Of a 2002 project involving marijuana muffins for pain management in Santa Cruz, Calif., Mission Hill Middle School science teacher Sherri Kilkenny says, "It got all this attention, but it was very average at best." '"

Comments

Intelligent Design: why is it lumped with science?

[Anonymous Coward]

Okay, I can't resist starting yet another ID vs Science thread.

If someone could show how the theory of Intelligent Design could create cures, new medicines or treatment - I think that alone would be worthy of scientific accolade.

As it stands, though, ID is more excuse than explanation. If students are going into science to explore the idea that "god did it", I can't help but think they'll be mightily disappointed (science can't measure generic theology - only tangible specifics).

And I'm not an atheist.