Dr Paul Zachary Myers (prefers PZ) is a biology professor at University of Minnesota, Morris, and a prolific science blogger with his blog, Pharyngula (previously pharyngula.org). He is currently the Associate Professor of Biology at Morris, and works in the realtively new field of Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), and has a penchant for cephalopods. A liberal and self avowed "godless" atheist, he is public critic of Intelligent Design (ID) and a key activist in the American contraversy surrounding the teaching of evolution. He is a vocal skeptic of all forms of religion, superstition, spirituality and pseudo-science. He is quoted as having "nothing but contempt for ID" and its followers.
Background
Myers was born the eldest of six children in Kent, Washington. He was named "Paul Zachary", after his grandfather, but preffered the initials PZ to being called "Little Paul".
He claims to have been a "science geek" from an early age (jokingly in the womb). He gained an interest for zoology and marine biology from studying the insides of fish while on fishing trips with his father, James.
Though now an atheist, Myers was a raised a Christian. prior to confirmation Myers explains having an awakening, "I started thinking, you know, I don't believe a word of this". He says he does not hold any bad feelings towards his upbringing.
Education
In 1975, Myers set of to DePauw Univeristy in Indiana on a full scholarship. however, he returned the next year after his father suffered a heart attack. He then attended University of Washington in 1979 to receive a Bachelor of Science in oceanography. He drifted away from this field towards evo-devo and obtained a PhD in Biology from the University of Oregon.
Post-graduate career
Myers has taught and researched at the University of Oregon, University of Utah and temple University. He is currently an Associate Professor in Biology for University of Minnesota in Morris, Minnesota.
Internet involvement and criticism of Intelligent Design
Myers was an early convert to internet technology. He became involved in scientific debate, particularly in reagrds to the growing pseudo-scientific creationist movement in the United States on user groups, forums and webistes like talk.origins. He was a founding member of The Panda's Thumb, and in June 2002 created his own website and blog Pharyngula.org.
Pharyngula.org
Pharyngula is Myers' personal weblog. It contains follows many, often seemingly unrelated, scientific and non-scientific tangents. It is particularly well known for Myers' writing style and criticism of Intelligent Design. It has been ranked as the third most read blog by a Minnesotan.
According to Alexa.com, Pharyngula.org was started on 19 June, 2002. It started out as an experiment in writing instruction for a class. Students were required to submit mini-essays to be published online. After the project was finished, Myers still had the web-publishing software, and started to use it personally. The weblog is named after his favourite stage in embryonic development, the pharyngula stage. Pharyngula moved to hosting at scienceblogs in 2005.
Myers' blog has become prolific as a qualified critic of the Discovery Institute, Answers in Genesis and other creationists. He has written in length criticising Jim Pinkoski's creationist comic books, one which describes a hypothetical situation of a fire breathing Tyrannosaurus rex beseiging Noah's ark, and another which uses the argument "If you doubt this is possible, how is it there are PYGMIES + DWARFS??".
As well as criticism on Intelligent Design and other forms of pseudo-science, Pharyngula includes posts on a very broad variety of topics that interest Myers. These include: cephalopods (creatures that Myers' finds most fascinating); science; religion; politics; local, national and international politics, particularly those involving science and education; superstition; the Flying Spaghetti Monster; evo-devo; and more.
See also
References
- Science Friday: Interview with a Mad Scientist on Daily Kos
- The Mad Scientist - interview/profile on City Pages
- Myers' CV at Minnesota University website