Comments on: Miss USA 2011, "A Huge Science Geek"

By: Emmil

Emmil — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:55:13 +0000

That girl has a lot of faith. She believes single cells, with all their complex mechanisms randomly came to life by chance… and randomly evolved into more complex organisms. The very way she states “I believe in it… ” tells me that evolution is just another belief system. The 24 contestants that said both ideologies should be taught, are more open minded than Dr. Vernon, who seems to believe that only those who espouse evolution are the only ones qualified as science ambassadors.

By: clancy

clancy — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:21:18 +0000

Pageant organizers asked the contestants, “Should evolution be taught in schools?” Of the 51 woman, 24 answered “yes,” two said “no,” 24 said both evolution and creation or “all perspectives” should be taught, and one chose not to answer.

The winner, Miss California Alyssa Campanella, was one of two contestants who said specifically that they “believe” in evolution.

“I was taught evolution in my high school growing up. And I do believe in it. I mean, I’m a huge science geek, so I like to believe in, like, the Big Bang theory and, you know, the evolution of humans, you know, throughout, you know, time,” she said.1

“Campanella’s answer demonstrated that she possesses a respectable appreciation and understanding of science.”

Additionally, she favored the legalization of medical marijuana and said that she would agree to a “tasteful” nude photo shoot as long as it presented her body in a way in which she would be respected.

Just as many respondents who favored evolution had favored academic freedom, and many contestants acknowledged the faith required to accept evolution. As Dr. Vernon commented, the new Miss USA does indeed possess “a respectable appreciation and understanding of science,” as demonstrated by her implicit acknowledgment that support for evolution is a matter of belief.

By: Miss USA contestants on teaching evolution « Skepacabra

Miss USA contestants on teaching evolution « Skepacabra — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:26:06 +0000

[...] some bloggers have been overjoyed that one of the few contestants who could be said to have actually supported the [...]

By: Carsten

Carsten — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:19:30 +0000

Nice try, to give a positive spin t this story. I find it really hard to find a positive angle. The creationist have won, at least in America, the war is over. There is a very small number (may be 5 out of … 50?) of these women role models who actually think that evolution is right. ALL (and I mean ALL) the others think it it is a question of belief and free choice and put it exactly on the same level as religious explanations. The overwhelming reply is that we should teach everything, and the kids can choose what the want to believe. Lets teach them that pi=3.14, but lets make sure to also teach them that it is 3. Given enough choice, I am sure they will select what they want to believe.

By: Jim Roberts

Jim Roberts — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:42:22 +0000

@ 17, It’s not as though she’d get more accurate information if she watched The History Channel instead – at least the shows she watches are entertaining and biased.

To those who say that she’s not going to be relevant after elected, she’s just not going to be relevant to the media at large – Miss USA spends a lot of time, and I mean a lot, going into schools and speaking to students, which is exactly where you want someone like this.

By: Miss USA 2011: A Science Geek! | Single City Guy

Miss USA 2011: A Science Geek! | Single City Guy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:26:26 +0000

[...] (but hope for the rest of the single guys on Twitter). While the new Miss USA 2011, claims to be a science geek, it’s surprising that she’s only one of two contestants who believe in evolution. [...]

By: Priscellie

Priscellie — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:39:52 +0000

My roommate was watching the pageant. When Campenella was asked about her collection of history books, she said, “I’m a huge history buff! I always watch ‘A Game of Thrones,’ ‘Camelot,’ ‘The Tudors’…” I facepalmed.

Oh well. Her heart is certainly in the right place. I’m glad we have a Miss USA who considers herself a geek, and I hope she can continue to educate herself as she inspires other young women to take an interest in science.

By: Did Her Evolution Answer Win the Title for Miss USA 2011? | Retort

Did Her Evolution Answer Win the Title for Miss USA 2011? | Retort — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:31:44 +0000

[...] has already been written on the sad fact that of the 51 young women who vied to be Miss USA 2011, only [...]

By: gary

gary — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:19:55 +0000

I’m not sure that she actually implied that the Big Bang was part of evolution, but I’ll defend that idea. Several years ago, I had a semester-long course on evolution–just evolution–that was team-taught by a biologist and a mathematician. The course worked its way from the big bang and cosmology up through molecular genetics. Evolution, in that context, was construed as an answer to the question of how we and everything around us got here. It’s a perspective that goes beyond the standard _Origin of species_ talk to embrace the continuity between animate and inanimate, and this perspective is crucial when considering the origins of life. In a nutshell, if you want to discuss how the first organism came into being (from elements to amino acids to cell membranes), then you need to deal with the fact that organisms are ultimately chemical/mechanical systems, emerging from and governed by the same laws of physics that have been in place since the big bang.

By: Salo

Salo — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:08:36 +0000

It’s worth noting that Penn Jillete, an avowed atheist, was one of the judges. I suspect that had something to do with the win.