Anti-Evolutionism in Court

2025 is the 100th anniversary of the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, in which school teacher John Scopes was tried for violating a law banning the teaching of evolution. It is also the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller trial, the most recent court challenge to evolution by so-called “Intelligent Design” creationists. These two trials remain cultural touchstones, reflecting ongoing religious and political tensions with science. We examine the key points at issue in these trials and see what lessons may be drawn for both scientists and citizens.

Robert Pennock is a professor, author and philosopher of science at Michigan State University, whose main interest lies in how organisms become knowers and how science can help systematize and improve this process. His research combines evolutionary biology and computer science. He was in Pune on a Fulbright exchange at IISER.