I say to the grown-ups, 'If you want to deny evolution and live in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we've observed in the universe that's fine. But don't make your kids do it.'

Evolution is a theory, and it's a theory that you can test. We've tested evolution in many ways. You can't present good evidence that says evolution is not a fact.

I just want to remind us all there are billions of people in the world who are deeply religious, who get enriched by the wonderful sense of community by their religion. But these same people do not embrace the extraordinary view that the Earth is somehow only 6,000 years old.

You stop planetary exploration, those people who do that extraordinary work are going to have to go do something else.

The Earth is not 6,000 or 10,000 years old. It's not. And if that conflicts with your beliefs, I strongly feel you should question your beliefs.

Unlike science, creationism cannot predict anything, and it cannot provide satisfactory answers about the past.

There's nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind.