Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are concerned about new proposed science education standards in New Mexico, according to the Associated Press.
Sixty-one senior scientists at the lab wrote a letter to New Mexico Department of Education that argued that the new standards would harm the study of climate change, evolution, and earth science in the state, it adds.
As Mother Jones has reported, New Mexico's proposal draws on the Next Generation Science Standards, which have been adopted by a number of US states — but with some key differences. New Mexico's version, for instance, leaves out the age of the Earth, glosses over human contributions to climate change while also replacing "global warming" with "temperature fluctuations," and removed some mentions of evolution.
"There is absolutely no scientific rationale for weakening the treatment of these subjects," the Los Alamos researchers wrote, according to the AP.
The Albuquerque Journal adds that the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education is also drafting a letter of protest, as have other school districts in the state and local and national science and education organizations.