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LONDON - The scientist who said creationism should be discussed in science lessons has left his job at the Royal Society.
Professor Michael Reiss stepped down yesterday as the Royal Society's director of education following remarks he made last week at the British Association for the Advancement of Science suggesting that creationism should be included in science lessons.
Lord Robert Winston, the IVF pioneer, criticised the Royal Society for condemning someone who was trying to engage with the growing number of children in Britain who come from religious families with strong creationist beliefs.
Professor Reiss had emphasised last week that he did not want creationism to be taught in science lessons, only that science teachers should be able to treat it as another "world view" that has no scientific basis.
However, the Royal Society was forced to issue a clarifying statement last week saying that his remarks had been "misrepresented" by the media and that it has not changed its position on creationism, stating that it should not be taught as science.
Yesterday, the Royal Society issued a second statement saying that Professor Reiss has stepped down as director of education.
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