I just sent the following email to the Vice Chancellor of UCLAN, Dawkins and Randi.
"Dear Sir,
As a graduate of the University of Central Lancashire, (UCLAN), I was very pleased to discover that Professor Richard Dawkins will be Celebrating Darwin Day by giving a lecture at UCLAN. In 1997 I was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLAN having spent three years reading Observational Astronomy and Instrumentation. I am proud of the academic status I have attained through being taught to apply critical evaluation to my subject. Recently I have built on my logic and reasoning skills by graduating with a Master of Science degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. You can therefore imagine my complete shock to discover that UCLAN is offering Bachelor of Science degrees in the mystical subject of homeopathy.
There is absolutely no evidence to support homeopathy. Homeopathy was conceived over 200 years ago, before the discovery of molecules and atoms, by a man who performed experiments on himself in order to judge the effectiveness of his remedies. Homeopaths claim that the weaker a solution is diluted the more potent it becomes, even when a solution is diluted far past the point where no molecules of the solute remain. Modern chemists have proven that at these factors of dilution no molecule of the solute could remain, meaning the solution is nothing but water. However, homeopaths claim the water retains some of the attributes of the solute by way of a memory system. No such attribute of water has ever been proven to exist. Every peer reviewed, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial has proven that homeopathy does not show any results above the placebo effect.
How then is it possible for a university, which prides itself on the academic credibility attained through teaching subjects with the support of logic, reason and evidence, to offer such a course? I feel this not only discredits the university, the staff, students and graduates but also brings shame to the entire British academic community.
The James Randi Education Foundation, (JREF),
http://www.randi.org, offers $1million to anyone who can provide credible evidence of the paranormal. As homeopathy has no scientific basis whatsoever, proving that it works by experiment would qualify for the prize. I would suggest that a representative of UCLAN make an application for the JREF prize or suggest some alterative peer reviewed controlled test to show that homeopathy has an effect above placebo. Should you be unsuccessful and be unable to show that homeopathy has an effect above placebo then in order for UCLAN to retain its status of a credible education establishment you should remove the course from the School of Complementary Medicine. If not I will endeavour to do everything in my power to petition for its removal.
UCLAN is the largest employer in the Lancashire town of Preston and students pay large sums of money to complete a three year course. Under graduates deserve value for money; they deserve to be taught valid, not imaginary, science. It is a disgrace that UCLAN is putting financial interests before academic credibility. I am sure Professor Dawkins would be equally disturbed to learn that such an accredited education establishment was offering such a course, which has no scientific basis whatsoever, as valid science. Maybe UCLAN will be offering under graduates Bachelor of Science courses with equally unscientific foundations. Will students be signing up for a course in witchcraft? Or maybe one could study to become a Bachelor of Science in astrology or palm reading!
I have forwarded this email to Mr James Randi and Professor Richard Dawkins. I look forward to hearing from you with great anticipation.
Yours sincerely,
John Hunsley. B.Sc. M.Sc."
