Irreducible Differences

Michael Behe, one of the few credible research scientists to defend intelligent design creationism, has just been disowned by his own department at Lehigh University:

Department Position on Evolution and "Intelligent Design"

The faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences is committed to the highest standards of scientific integrity and academic function. This commitment carries with it unwavering support for academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas. It also demands the utmost respect for the scientific method, integrity in the conduct of research, and recognition that the validity of any scientific model comes only as a result of rational hypothesis testing, sound experimentation, and findings that can be replicated by others.

The department faculty, then, are unequivocal in their support of evolutionary theory, which has its roots in the seminal work of Charles Darwin and has been supported by findings accumulated over 140 years. The sole dissenter from this position, Prof. Michael Behe, is a well-known proponent of “intelligent design.” While we respect Prof. Behe's right to express his views, they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the department. It is our collective position that intelligent design has no basis in science, has not been tested experimentally, and should not be regarded as scientific.

I particularly like the scare quotes. An "official disclaimer" also features prominently in Behe's own web page. To add insult to injury, his colleagues have also invited Ken Miller for a seminar.

I suspect that Behe's week is going to get even worse because Michael Lynch's paper is about to appear in Protein Science. I wonder if the events are related.

[Via Pharyngula and Red State Rabble]