DINOSAURS BACK AT INSIGHTS AMID SCIENCE CURRICULUM CONTROVERSY

By Daniel Marin, ABC-7 Reporter

EL PASO, Texas — Insights Science Museum in downtown El Paso is rolling out the red carpet for some of the biggest stars in the history of modern science: dinosaurs.

The animatronic giants are back at the museum for their yearly exhibit.

“They’re animated to represent the way dinosaurs moved and behaved in the wild to the best of our scientific knowledge,” said exhibit coordinator Gabriel Veach.

But this year, “scientific knowledge” and the way it’s taught in Texas public schools is at the center of controversy.

The Texas Board of Education is in the midst of a heated debate over science education, particularly evolution.

Currently, teachers are required to address the “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theory like evolution. But some educators see the mandate as a way to sneak creationism and religion into the classroom.

So, the state board may vote to drop the requirement.

Insights says it’s not really taking sides in the debate. They say they have their hands full with their prehistoric visitors for now. But Veach says their view is the same as that of any other science museum.

“When it comes to education,” Veach explained, “we have to take actual evidence and not faith-based when it comes to the world of science.

The State Board of Education is expected to make a final ruling in March.

The dinosaur exhibit at Insights runs from February through May.