Kansas science teaching ranked undesirable

It's worse than being a nuclear weapons scientist or a volcanologist. It's even worse than being an orangutan urine collector.

Teaching biology in Kansas is considered one of the worst jobs in science.

The most recent issue of Popular Science Magazine ranks the top 10 worst jobs to have in science - and teaching biology in Kansas is considered the third-least desirable occupation in the world of scientific professions.

Though biology professors teaching evolution at the University of Kansas said it was tough, they didn't believe it was that difficult.

"I think being a biology teacher in Kansas right now is one of the best jobs because one has an opportunity to inform the students and the citizens of Kansas," said Paulyn Cartwright, assistant professor of evolutionary developmental biology.

Even with the recent scrutiny biology teachers instructing on evolution face in Kansas, professors said it was important to focus on providing students with an education and not worry about how tough the job was or whether or not Kansas was becoming a national joke.

"I almost feel like I'm on the front lines of something that is perceived as a battle," said Bruce Lieberman, associate professor of geology. "I wish it wasn't, but my goal is to just educate the students as well as I can and I treat it as an opportunity."

But trying to provide that education to students - in a state locked in a heated battle over the topic of evolution - means Kansas science teachers attending national conferences are subject to other teachers taking the opportunity to poke a little fun at Kansas.

"I'm still very happy to be teaching biology in Kansas but I do know that my job could be easier in some way and I wish it was," Lieberman said, "because I do hear it from my colleagues when I attend national and international meetings."

Teaching Biology in Kansas was only the third-worst job in science. The two jobs that are considered worse than teaching biology in Kansas are being a human lab rat or having to inspect manure.

Teachers at KU are taking the ranking in stride, saying it's important to remember Kansas is not the only state locked in a battle over evolution.