When Even Science Has a Bias

Brock Schroeder used to teach astronomy at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois, and he prided himself on being open to exploring a wide range of perspectives in his life and work. In the natural sciences, though, it’s typically understood that physical laws are the same regardless of one’s personal background. A focus on learning such things as the order of the planets and the scale of the universe should then mean that all of Dr. Schroeder’s students wind up with the same knowledge from taking his classes.

One semester, though, Schroeder was with his class in the planetarium, and…