Topeka ? Spectators, scientists and a group of students from Lawrence’s Bishop Seabury Academy gathered today at the start of the trial of evolution.

“I think they are making history,” said Kate Falkenstien, a ninth-grader.

The students had recently debated evolution and an idea called intelligent design, and evolution won with Falkenstien arguing for evolution.

John Burch of Lawrence, a supporter of teaching evolution, was one of the first to arrive to watch the hearings that are expected to last at least three days.

“This is my first time to observe these so-called researchers,” Burch said.

The hearings have been called by conservative members of the State Board of Education to consider science standards that wll be used to guide science education in Kansas public schools.

Appearing before the board will be some 23 witnesses who will criticize evolution. Pro-evolution scientists have boycotted the meeting, but have put up an information booth outside the hearings to counter the anti-evolution testimony.

Critics of evolution generally say that while they agreed with some of the theory, other parts of it support a godless view of how life began.

The pro-evolution scientists say the critics want to de-bunk evolution to inject religious teachings that can’t be proved and shouldn’t be included in science class.

James Carville, co-host of CNN's political debate program, Crossfire, was among national commentators who were this afternoon keeping watch on the evolution debate, which began today in Topeka.

Burch opposes the critics, saying, “They have a religious agenda.”

William Harris, a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, was first at bat to challenge evolution.

He said science standards now limit students by telling them science can only deal with natural explanations of life. “This is taken as dogma and dogma has no place in science,” he said.

He said critics of evolution don ‘t want to require that intelligent design — which says there is a plan behind the origins of life — be taught, but that he doesn’t want it prohibited either.

Harris said that Darwinism precludes the belief in God because the theory says life occurred through chance.

Jack Krebs, a pro-evolution scientist, held an impromptu news conference during a break in the hearing to angrily denounce Harris’ remarks.

Earlier story: Evolution critics take the stage today at hearings

“He is reading beween the lines things that we don’t believe,” Krebs said.

State Board of Education members praised witnesses appearing before them. “I am humbled by the intelligence before me,” said Connie Morris.

But attorney Pedro Irigonegaray, representing pro-evolution scientists, was pointed in his cross-examination. Before the hearing started he called it “a kangaroo court.”

At one point, he noted that the science standards supported by a majority of scientists contain no reference to atheism, materialism, naturalism, humanism and do not prohibit teachers and students from talking about alternative theories to evolution.