Jim Leebens-Mack: Not just a plant scientist

UGA plant biologist Jim Leebens-Mack is gaining even more accolades for leading an international team of scientists sequencing the ancient  Amborella trichopoda plant. Their research will help shed light on the origin of flowering plants.

But in 2012, Leebens-Mack took on an additional duty: he helped spur the Darwin for Congress campaign against Republican incumbent Rep. Paul Broun.

To recap those events:

Darwin's group started after Broun stated he believed evolution was a lie "straight from the pit of Hell." During a speech at the 2012 Sportsman's Banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Ga., Broun, a medical doctor, said the and that he had found evidence for this during his work "as a scientist."

"God's word is true. I've come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell," Broun said during the banquet. "It's lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior." 

Following the comments, UGA plant biologist Jim Leebens-Mack started a Facebook page introducing Darwin as an alternative candidate. The page has garnered over 1,300 supporters.

Leebens-Mack said although he didn't organize the protest, he had hoped for this kind of action from the beginning. 

"I really think it's important that people do write in for Charles Darwin," he said. "I think if we got a few thousand votes, like 10,000 or 20,000 votes, that would be a strong message to Paul Broun and Republicans who are in leadership. But it would also be a message to other people in the district, such as Democrats or Independents, that Paul Broun is vulnerable and that he could be voted out of office."

Leebens-Mack said he started the Facebook page not only to protest Broun's position, but also to send a message about anti-intellectualism and anti-science sentiment.

"I think it would raise awareness in the 10th district, in America and in fact the world that this anti-intellectualism and anti-science — although there is a vocal minority that says 'Yeah, that's okay,' the majority don't agree with it," he said. "People aren't that crazy in Georgia. As much as Georgia is sometimes portrayed as backward or out-of-touch, there are a lot of thoughtful, intelligent people who are outraged by this sort of thing."