Without getting into religious arguments, or delving into evolution vs. creationism... I just want to point out how strange this seems to me:

Scientists have refused to participate in state Board of Education hearings this past week on how the theory of evolution should be treated in public schools, but they haven't exactly been silent.

About a dozen scientists, most from Kansas universities, spoke each day at news conferences after evolution critics testified before a board subcommittee. They expect to continue speaking out as the hearings wrap up on Thursday.

"They're in, they do their shtick, and they're out," said Keith Miller, a Kansas State University geologist. "I'm going to be here, and I'm not going to be quiet. We'll have the rest of our lives to make our points."

The scientists' boycott was led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Kansas Citizens for Science, which believe the hearings are rigged against the teaching of evolution.

Scientists said they don't see the need to cram their arguments into a few days of testimony, like out-of-state witnesses who were called by advocates of the "intelligent design" theory.

What seems strange to me is that an entire profession which constantly proposes theories, finds evidence either for or against those theories, and then has to back up their claims against rigorous scrutiny seems scared to be there. This sort of thing should be right up their alley. After all, even the most green PhD has had to defend a dissertation in front of a board. Boycotting a hearing like this seems very much unscientific. I'm surprised by it. I'm a firm believer in science, and I'm also a debater. I would have gone.