Academic Science & Students

November 1, 2006 by Dr. Mc.

Nov 2 begins a conference at which Dr. Elaine Howard Ecklund presents findings from her year-long study of Religion Among Academic Scientists (RAAS). Collecting data from 1,646 academics in natural and social science from 21 major universities, she makes some interesting observations. As one might expect, 60% of scientists poled identified themselves as atheist or agnostic compaired with 8% of the general population. What I found more interesting was her observation among these scientists that, “Childhood religious backbround, not exposure to scientific education, seems to be the most powerful predictor of future irreligion.” That suggests to me that scientific education is less than compelling in its irreligious arguments. But it also suggests that irreligious persons are more likely to go into academic science professions than the general population. Perhaps it is only that religious persons are less likely to get through the filter to become academic scientists. I hope that is not the case, but it certainly sounds like my personal experience. Also interesting is that those surveyed indicated greater interest among students to discuss religion with their teachers, and teachers would like materials to help them with the discussion. This is good? It may depend on what help they get. They feel ill equipped for the discussion, but if they mean they want materials to defend their own view..
Dr. Echlund provides a good summary of her findings here, but access is only for subscribers to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

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