Earlier today I noted a weird situation in Alabama, with a teacher-union-funded ad attacking a candidate for governor for believing in evolution, and the candidate declaring himself a defender of creationism in the schools. I wondered who would speak up for science in Alabama. But I’d be remiss not to point out that good research in evolutionary biology does get done there. For example:
Beatrice Hahn studies the evolution of HIV from chimpanzee-infecting viruses.
Marshal Abrams studies the philosophical foundations of fitness.
Phillip Harris studies the evolution of diversity in freshwater fishes.
John Yoder studies the evolution of new organs.
Steven Secor studies the evolution of digestion in reptiles and amphibians, and what they surprisingly say about the evolution of our own species.
Jeannette Doeller and David Kraus have designed an innovative course on integrating evolution and medicine.
I could go on (and please feel free add other scientists in the comment thread). Suffice to say, there’s good stuff going on in Alabama. Too bad it’s not better known there.
Originally published May 12, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.