Siegfried Scherer
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Scherer is a German
biologist
, since 1991 Professor for Microbiology
at the Technical University of Munich
, Weihenstephan
, where he is Managing Director of the Nutrition and Food Research Center ZIEL. Scherer is not a prominent Creationist as often purported. He believes that religion and science are two different ways of approaching reality.
, chemistry
and physics
at the University of Konstanz
. 1977 he passed state examination in chemistry and physics, 1980 diploma and state examination in biology. 1983 he earned his PhD in plant physiology
. 1983-1988 research on plant physiology and biochemistry at University of Konstanz, 1984 he receives the Byk company's research award. 1986 research stay for field studies at China and Mongolia with the Chinese Academy of Science. 1988-1989 research scholarship from German Academic Exchange Service
at the Virginia Tech Department of Biochemistry.
1989-1991 postdoc studies at University of Konstanz. 1991 habilitation
at University of Konstanz in plant physiology and microbial ecology. Professor extraordinarius at the Technical University of Munich. Director of the Microbiology Department at the Research Center for Milk and Food, Weihenstephan. From 1997 Managing Director of the Research Center for Milk and Food. 2002 Invitation for a chair at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
, 2003 invitation to the chair for microbial ecology at the Nutrition and Food Research Center ZIEL. 2003 ordained Managing Director of the ZIEL.
Scherer is doing research on pathogens in food
by use of genetic engineering
. His team developed a method for early detection of microorganisms causing food deterioration and therefore received the 2005 Award of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations "Otto von Guericke". Other research interests are taxonomy
and evolution
. Scherer authored numerous publications on plant physiology
and microbiology
.
Scherer is one of the most prominent German critics of evolution theory
. Until 2006, he presided at the Studiengemeinschaft Wort und Wissen, an evangelical association of German creationists and critics of evolutionary theory. Together with Reinhard Junker he authored the textbook Evolution – ein kritisches Lehrbuch, which presents evolution theory from a creationist perspective. Until 2003 Scherer was Fellow of the Discovery Institute
. He criticizes the institute's current activities towards implementing Intelligent design
in school science curricula by legal means.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
, since 1991 Professor for Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
at the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
, Weihenstephan
Weihenstephan
Weihenstephan is a part of Freising north of Munich, Germany.Weihenstephan is known for:* the site of one of the three campuses of the Technische Universität München , namely the one for life sciences* the Fachhochschule Weihenstephan...
, where he is Managing Director of the Nutrition and Food Research Center ZIEL. Scherer is not a prominent Creationist as often purported. He believes that religion and science are two different ways of approaching reality.
Biography
Scherer studied biologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the University of Konstanz
University of Konstanz
The University of Konstanz is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1966, and the main campus on the Gießberg was opened in 1972. As one of nine German Excellence Universities today University of Konstanz is counted among Germany's most prestigious...
. 1977 he passed state examination in chemistry and physics, 1980 diploma and state examination in biology. 1983 he earned his PhD in plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
. 1983-1988 research on plant physiology and biochemistry at University of Konstanz, 1984 he receives the Byk company's research award. 1986 research stay for field studies at China and Mongolia with the Chinese Academy of Science. 1988-1989 research scholarship from German Academic Exchange Service
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation....
at the Virginia Tech Department of Biochemistry.
1989-1991 postdoc studies at University of Konstanz. 1991 habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
at University of Konstanz in plant physiology and microbial ecology. Professor extraordinarius at the Technical University of Munich. Director of the Microbiology Department at the Research Center for Milk and Food, Weihenstephan. From 1997 Managing Director of the Research Center for Milk and Food. 2002 Invitation for a chair at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
The University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna was founded in 1767 as the world's third school for veterinary medicine by Milan's Ludovico Scotti, originally named k. k. Pferde-Curen- und Operationsschule . Today, it has c...
, 2003 invitation to the chair for microbial ecology at the Nutrition and Food Research Center ZIEL. 2003 ordained Managing Director of the ZIEL.
Scherer is doing research on pathogens in food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
by use of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
. His team developed a method for early detection of microorganisms causing food deterioration and therefore received the 2005 Award of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations "Otto von Guericke". Other research interests are taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
and evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
. Scherer authored numerous publications on plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
and microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
.
Scherer is one of the most prominent German critics of evolution theory
Evolution Theory
Tin1 Yin2 Leun6 is Candy Lo's 9th studio album. It was released on 4 June 2005. For this album Candy Lo worked together with Hong Kong producer Kubert Leung with whom she worked on previous albums as well.- Track listing :...
. Until 2006, he presided at the Studiengemeinschaft Wort und Wissen, an evangelical association of German creationists and critics of evolutionary theory. Together with Reinhard Junker he authored the textbook Evolution – ein kritisches Lehrbuch, which presents evolution theory from a creationist perspective. Until 2003 Scherer was Fellow of the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
. He criticizes the institute's current activities towards implementing Intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
in school science curricula by legal means.