Siegfried Scherer - Biography

Biography

Scherer studied biology, 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.