Milton Wainwright
Dr Milton Wainwright is a senior lecturer in molecular biology at the University of Sheffield. Contrary to some claims by creationists and IDers, Wainwright is neither an ardent IDer nor a creationist. He has, though, made it clear in public that scientists should be open to the concept of Intelligent Design. Wainwright has also said that he is, from a religious viewpoint, agnostic.
He does, however, appear to be open to Intelligent Design and, indeed, has not made up his mind about it. Some may take the view that he is now, post-Dover, openly sitting on the fence about it.
His academic position is confirmed at http://www.shef.ac.uk/mbb/staff/wainwright
This letter from Milton to the Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-1625988,00.html demonstrates that he is no creationist.
This letter to the Independent confirms that he is an agnostic: http://comment.independent.co.uk/letters/article327971.ece
As does the following letter from him published in the Daily Telegraph on 31st January 2006:
"Sir - Most readers of books by Michael Behe or William Dembski find intelligent design a rational, but not necessarily correct, idea (Letters, January 30).
Darwinists clearly think they can refute the idea that complex structures need a designer; others think they are wrong. All this is fine - we call this scientific debate.
However, for taking this line, I have been called a creationist (when I am an agnostic) and anti-evolution (despite having provided an addition to the theory of natural selection).
From this, I conclude that most of the debate is not about science, but is a battle between the creationists and atheists to determine who will set the present, and future, cultural agenda. Those of us who are not involved should make sure that neither side wins.”
Dr Milton Wainwright, University of Sheffield
This letter from him in the Independent newspaper, 11th August 2005, provides details of his position as well:
“Sir: The Darwinian propaganda machine is once again in full swing (letters, 9 August ) and is attempting to stifle any discussion by equating intelligent design with creationism.
Some agnostic biologists, like myself, are interested in this and other forms of teleology; we call this approach science. It seems that the evolutionists are convinced that they have found the last word on life, some of us however, doubt that they have the full answer, and so are still searching.”
DR MILTON WAINWRIGHT”
Here is a letter from Wainwright that appeared in the Guardian on 28th November 2006.
"Intelligent design should not be taught in schools simply because it has not yet "gone through the mill". A number of similar interesting "fringe" ideas exist that are not yet matured enough for school use. What is worrying, however, is that members of the scientific establishment, such as Lewis Wolpert and Richard Dawkins, appear hell-bent on denying a hearing to ideas that do not fit into their orthodox world-view."
University of Sheffield
Others would strongly disagree with him - not least because ID has "gone through the mill" at Dover and found to be so wanting that it is seen as a largely spent force in the USA.
