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US scientists want none of Dalai Lama's religion

     Washington: Over 900 scientists have objected to the Dalai Lama delivering a talk on the neurological effects of meditation at a three-day conference presented by the Washington- based Mind and Life Institute. According to a Washington Times report, the scientists have signed a petition that said that inviting a religious leader to speak at a scientific assembly sends a damaging message about the role of faith in science. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Georgetown University Medical School are co-sponsors of the Science and Clinical Applications of Meditation conference. "Scientifically, as a neurologist, I don't see any advantage [to the lecture]," the paper quoted Dr. Xian-Min Yu, a professor of molecular neurophysiology at Florida State University, as saying. "No one has any problem with the Dalai Lama," said Robert Wood Johnson Medical School neuro-biologist Dr. Nancy Hayes, adding that she had signed the petition because she did not consider a scientific conference the appropriate place for the Dalai Lama's lecture. Those in favour of the Dalai Lama's presentation, however, claimed that most of those protesting were Chinese or of Chinese origin, suggesting that their opposition may have more to do with politics than science. "The Dalai Lama is inaugurating a lecture series of non- scientists on subjects of interest to scientists," said Kate Saunders, a spokeswoman for the Tibetan spiritual leader. In the recent past, the Dalai Lama has drawn criticism for writings perceived to support the theory of intelligent design, which holds that the theory of evolution insufficiently explains the complexity of the universe.