Famed Scientist Richard Dawkins Joins the Advisory Board of the Secular Coalition for America
June 7, 2006 - The Secular Coalition for America is pleased to announce the addition of Richard Dawkins to its Advisory Board. The Secular Coalition for America is the first lobbying organization representing the interests of atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheists in the nation's capitol.Richard Dawkins is a well known commentator on science, religion, and politics. He taught zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and at Oxford University and now holds the Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford.
Dr. Dawkins is an eminent ethologist, evolutionary theorist, and popular science writer. His bestselling books include The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker (for which he won the Royal Society of Literature Award and the Los Angeles Times Literary Prize), The Extended Phenotype, River Out of Eden, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, and A Devil's Chaplain.
Lori Lipman Brown, the Director of the Secular Coalition for America, stated, "Richard Dawkins embodies our mission statement commitment in 'promoting reason and science as the most reliable methods for understanding the universe and improving the human condition' ." His international perspective will assist the Secular Coalition for America in tackling the irrational barriers that inhibit the exploration of scientific arenas such as stem cell research.
In June of last year, the House of Representatives passed HB 810, which would allow expanded stem cell research; however, the Senate has taken no action on this legislation. This legislative lethargy enforced by the Senate leadership is completely lacking in conscience or compassion. If allowed to proceed, stem cell research has the potential to find cures for a host of diseases and injuries including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries.
The Secular Coalition for America again thanks Dr. Dawkins for joining its Advisory Board and looks forward to his insights on promoting rational public policies.