Evolution is the "only evidence-based explanation for the epic, wonderful diversity of life on Earth," writes Michael Dixon, the director of the Natural History Museum in London, in an opinion piece at the Guardian.
He adds that he finds it "alarming" that there have been reports from, for instance, Israel and Turkey, that school curriculums are forgoing teaching evolution.
While Dixon notes that Charles Darwin and evolution have weathered opposition for 150 years, he argues current resistance shouldn't be ignored because of how evolutionary theory contributes to the scientific understanding of modern problems. Evolutionary theory, for instance, has helped researchers understand why antibiotic-resistant organisms have evolved as well as glean which organisms might be the most affected by climate change.
Apart from religious objections, Dixon says that evolution is often questioned because people have difficulty grasping the timescale on which it works as well as the term "theory" implying uncertainty where there is none.
"We must – of course – teach it in schools as the core part of any science curriculum. And we must speak up to defend scientific evidence and rational debate," Dixon argues. "But more than these things, we must inspire children with the sheer wonder and variety of nature, and ignite their curiosity in the world around them."